Wallace A HunstadSeptember 23, 1923 - September 19, 2006Born September 23, 1923 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Wallace Allen Hunstad was a middle child in the Birger and Jeanette Hunstad family of five children. He graduated from Rainbow School, a one-room country school in Brown County in 1937 and from Central High School, Aberdeen, with the class of 1941. He earned a BA degree from Augustana College, Sioux Falls where he was chosen one of eight representative seniors in the class of 1948. He attended Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN graduating with the class of 1952.\r\nWally credits his parents and family, his grade school teachers and Scandinavia Lutheran Church, a small country church near Aberdeen, South Dakota, for establishing the fundamental values which guided him throughout his life.\r\nWally spent three years in the U.S. Navy from July 1, 1943 to July 31, 1946. He was commissioned Ensign at the U.S. Midshipman's School, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York on January 24, 1945. Following training at Communications School, Harvard University he was assigned to the Service Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet and served as Communications Officer in the Port Director Unit Naha, Okinawa for the remainder of his service time in WWII.\r\nWally met Margaret Louise Pierson, daughter of Dr. Lester A. and Edith Pierson, when he returned to Augustana following his stint in the Navy. They were married June 18, 1950, at First Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.\r\nOrdained May 25, 1952 by Dr. Lester A. Pierson in his home congregation, Scandinavia Lutheran, Aberdeen, Wally served St. Olaf, Bethany and Skabo Lutheran Churches in Grenora, North Dakota, Trinity Lutheran, Green Bay and Chetek Lutheran, Chetek, Wisconsin.\r\nHis ministry included preaching, Bible studies and especially his first love, ministry to youth.\r\nHe retired in 1989 after 37 years of active ministry. Not satisfied with retirement from Christian Ministry, Wally returned to part time ministry serving four Interim terms in the Curtis, Birchwood, Taylor and Stanley parishes respectfully; all in Wisconsin. He was recognized by the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin May 31, 2002 for 50 years of ordination.\r\nWallace A. Hunstad is survived by his wife Margaret; four children: Mary (Sherman) Toufar of Chetek, WI; David (Kathy) Hunstad of Moorhead, MN; Sarah Britten of Chetek, WI; Suzanne (Kirk) Olson of Maple Grove, MN; and one daughter-in-law, Lynn Hunstad of Minnetonka, MN; 14 grandchildren, Joe (Sara) Toufar of Chippewa Falls, WI; Christopher Toufar of Rice Lake; Kathryn of Blaine, MN; Jacob and Joshua Toufar of Chetek; Isaac and Rachel Hunstad of Minnetonka; Elizabeth, Nels and Bjorn of Moorhead; Natasha (Chad) Deplazes of Fargo, ND; Ryan and Zachary Britten of Chetek; Leo Olson of Maple Grove; four great grandchildren: Alexander and Ava Elise Toufar; Heidi and Katie Mae Deplazes; two sisters: Kathleen Kindred of Shawnee, KS; Vivian (Don) Schley of Scottsdale, AZ; one brother, Donald (Odell) Hunstad, of LeMars, IA.\r\nWally was preceded in death by one son, Thomas; one brother, Bernard; and his parents, Birger and Jeanette Hunstad.\r\nFuneral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 23, 2006, at Grace Lutheran Church, with Bishop Robert Berg and Revs. Rolf A. Nestingen, and David J. Irgens officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Scandinavia Lutheran Church Cemetery, Bath, SD. Family and friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.\r\nIn lieu of flowers please send memorials to Luther Park Bible Camp, PO Box 153, Chetek, WI 54728.\r\n

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