LeRoy Alfred Flagstad, 91, passed away at West Hills Village Health Care Center in Rapid City, SD, on November 25, 2022, after a series of strokes.

LeRoy was born on a windy day on April 13, 1931, on the Flagstad farm on Galchutt Road, Wyndmere, ND, the first child of Alfred and Alpha Skrukrud Flagstad.  He was delivered by a neighbor called Grandma Hegseth.  When he attended his first year of school at Garborg #1 elementary, he struggled because Norwegian was his first language, and with the awkwardness of being the only boy in the one-room school house.  He was baptized and confirmed at Viking Lutheran Church, where he was later installed as a minister.   His grandparents, Matt and Mary Skrukrud, moved into town so that LeRoy could attend Wyndmere High School.  Notable high school events included learning to use the telephone and lettering in track.  He graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, and Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN.  He received a Doctor of Ministry degree from North American Baptist Seminary, Sioux Falls, SD.

Flagstad was ordained into the pastoral ministry of the American Lutheran Church on June 9, 1957 and served all of his ministry in South Dakota parishes:  Philip-Hilland area; American, Bison; Indian Creek, Meadow; Homme, Prairie City; Immanuel, Zeona; Skoger, Sorum; Slim Buttes, Reva; Trinity, Mobridge; Bethlehem, Aberdeen; Hope, Sioux Falls; and Trinity, Rapid City.  He continued in ministry by filling many pulpits as called upon after retirement.

Although the gentle tug of ministry was in LeRoy's early life, he wasn't convinced it was for him. Reluctantly filling out an application for seminary, he hesitantly put it in the mail.  As he let go of the envelope and it dropped into the mailbox, the Spirit moved in him, and LeRoy let go of his hesitations and dropped his doubts.  At that very moment he was graced with the peace of knowing he was called to be a pastor.  You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. Psalm 139:1

The lifelong focus of his ministry was to lead others to Christ, which he did faithfully through his work as shepherd in many congregations, through mission work, using his farm upbringing to ship tractors to Nigeria.  He was involved with the Conference on the Holy Spirit, Lutheran Renewal Board, and many other groups and organizations whose mission was to promote and spread the gospel.

LeRoy is preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Alpha, and brothers, Duane, and Gary, and servant Aunt Mabel that we knew as Grandma Mabel.  He is survived by his wife Valborg Elaine Tranby, whom he married in Erskine, MN, on June 11, 1955, He is survived by his sister, Shirley Skoglund, and sister-in-law, Jeanne Flagstad.  LeRoy and Val's children are Dr. Lois Flagstad, (Dr. James Fleming), Miami, NM; Paul (Ann) Flagstad, Burnsville, MN; Ruth (Brian) Lundborg, Lexington, KY; Mary Beth (Art) George, Burke, VA. His 3 daughters were born on Sunday mornings, just before he stepped into the pulpit.  His son was born on a random Tuesday afternoon. The light and joy of his life were his grandchildren: Luther (Liliana) Flagstad, Marie (Josh) Brewers, Hannah (Adam) Raymond, Samuel, Joshua, Emily Lundborg, Anders Flagstad, Marisa, and Austin George; and great grandchildren: Jordy and Macy Brewers, Asher Flagstad-Sanchez, Oliver Raymond.  May you see your children's children.  Psalm 128:6

During retirement in Rapid City, with Val at his side, he served part time at the Chapel in the Hills, and concentrated on writing, wood carving, travel and genealogy.  He was a member of Sons of Norway Borgund Lodge, Hay Camp Carvers and remained active in the Bear Butte Synod of the ELCA.

LeRoy will be remembered for his infectious smile, open arms and loving heart as he engaged people in conversations guided by God's Grace.

With Jesus Christ there is always a new beginning! This phrase was posted in LeRoy's office, he said it often, and it was posted on his door at the very end.

The visitation will be held on Thursday, December 1, at 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Osheim Funeral Home, 2700 Jackson Blvd.  The funeral will be on Friday, December 2, at 10:30 a.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church, 402 Kansas City St., Rapid City.  Lunch provided after the service, followed by the committal at Mount Calvary Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to:

Chapel in the Hills                Trinity Lutheran Radio Ministry

3788 Chapel Ln                    402 Kansas City St

Rapid City, SD 57702            Rapid City, SD 57701

Or donate to an organization of your choice.

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An In-Complete History of LeRoy Alfred Flagstad

The following are the musings of the son of LeRoy, in a attempt to fill some color in, around and outside the obituary written above.  The gaps, inaccuracies, misrepresentations, outright bad grammar and only some of the humor is mine.   A lot more could be said, or maybe a bit less.  If you see any glaring errors, please let me know, or just laugh.  I appreciate either.

It is my goal to tell of a life of faithful service to the Lord and others, and that you would know that the Lord loves you and is looking forward to you being with Him.

-Paul Flagstad, 11/30/2022

LeRoy Alfred Flagstad 1931-2022

LeRoy Alfred Flagstad, 91, was taken up by Jesus at West Hills Village Health Care Center in Rapid City, SD, on November 25, 2022, after a series of strokes.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Besides receiving that last blessing of being received by Jesus, a whole lot of other blessings occurred in those 91 years of Dad's life!  Soli Deo Gloria, To God Alone the Glory was not just a common sermon ending, but a life mantra of our dad, LeRoy, Roy, Son, Brother, Friend, Husband, Pastor, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa, Dr. LeRoy Alfred Flagstad, Shepherd, Child of God.

Dad was born on April 13, 1931.  Once asking his uncle Clarance Skrukrud about the day he was born, he received a weather report: "My, it was a windy day!"   He was delivered by the neighbor they called Grandma Hegseth on the Flagstad farm on Galchutt Road, Wyndmere, ND, and was the first child of Alfred and Alpha Skrukrud Flagstad.  Grandma Hegseth was also his Baptismal sponsor, so Dad would speak of her as being present at both his physical and spiritual births.

He attended his first year of school at Garborg #1 elementary school, a one-room schoolhouse near his home farm.  Norwegian was his language at that age, so he didn't do very well with the English based curriculum.  He also had to learn how to get along with girls, since he was the only boy amongst that class of 13 students.  His grades picked up quickly in the following years, despite having to walk the three or so miles, or go by horseback, although sometimes his dad would hitch up the sled in winter to take him.  Perhaps to spend more time on farm chores.  His brother Duane and Sister Shirley were born in those years, and by the time he was 10, brother Gary joined the family.  His grandparents, Matt and Mary Skrukrud, lived nearby and they were a 2 ^nd family to Roy, as they called him.  There were his uncles Clarence & Raymond, aka, "the boys", and Aunt Mabel.

Farm life was without electricity, indoor plumbing, or tractors.  Fieldwork was done with horses and LeRoy became adept at leading a team of workhorses and riding as mentioned above.  When dad was 13, the first tractor was bought for the farm.  A brand new IH Farmall model B that LeRoy had the honor of driving the 13 miles home from Wyndmere, "With the tags flying!"  Grandpa Alfred tried to get it without fenders to save a few dollars.  Dad spent a lot more time on that tractor pushing a two-row cultivator, learning patience and obedience to duty and hard work.  The bit about the fenders: that thrift followed dad and mom into their financial lives.  Perhaps we'll talk later about dad ordering a car and foregoing the glovebox door to save a few bucks.

Grandpa Alfred purposely settled the farm place near the family of LeRoy's mother, Alpha, so that she could be looked after in case Alfred's health failed.  But Alpha went first when dad was 16.  The hospital staff laughed at Alfred for praying and pleading with the Lord over her deathbed for healing.  The great love Alfred had for Alpha, the provision for her care, and his dad's great faith and dependance on the Lord became a model of how LeRoy would love and care for Valborg in later years.  His dependance on the Lord grew in him too.

Viking Church was about 6 miles from the farm place.  Alfred was a Baptist and Alpha a Lutheran, so of course they attended Viking, a Lutheran church.  Dad was baptized, confirmed, and spent all his growing years attending Viking.  Baptist Alfred was not always pleased with the Lutheran way and would comment on the way home at times, "The pastor was dry today."  Could this be why dad introduced Peanuts, Family Circus, Hagar the Horrible and B.C. characters into his sermon stories?

Later Alfred was pleased that Roy was going into ministry, but thought he picked the wrong church.  The call of the Lord was stronger than family on that point.  More on that later as God was working out Dad's faith.

A favorite spot of dad's was the altar at Viking Church.  There was a painting of Jesus, the Shepherd, holding a lamb.  His view of Jesus was shaped by that image, and later became his calling, to be shepherd to the flocks where he was called during ministry. He didn't know it yet, in his early days.  On the night of dad's death, this is how I picture dad, being carried by Jesus.  The intimacy of Jesus knowing dad so well that dad was at peace in the arms of our Shepherd.  Jesus knows all of us like that.

One day in his younger days, he was out doing fieldwork with his uncle Raymond.  Raymond said to him, "Roy, you ought to be a Pastor".   Dad replied that he wasn't smart enough for that.  This was one of the tugs of the Spirit he received to enter the ministry, and not the only community member to suggest this to him.  The Spirit was on the move in dad's life.

Dad was now off to high school after his mother died, but there was Duane 10, Shirley 8 and Gary 6, still at home.  Mabel, Alpha's sister, came over to the Flagstad farm to care for the kids.  Mabel's sacrificial gift of care was another blessing to the Flagstad family and another model of love for dad.  Five years later grandpa Alfred asked dad what he thought about Mabel becoming his wife.  LeRoy thought that would be OK, so Alfred and Mabel were married, and Aunt Mabel was always known to the family as Grandma Mabel.

Dad's grandparents, Matt and Mary Skrukrud moved into town so that he could stay with them to attend Wyndmere High School.  Dad lived with them during the week and would return home for chores and Viking Lutheran worship on weekends.  A great embarrassment in high school was when he was called to the office because he received a phone call.  He hadn't seen many telephones and had to ask how to use it to answer that call.  He also lettered in track enjoyed basketball.  For some reason there exists a picture of him in a classic basketball pose.  I always think of him being ready for anything in that picture.  Perhaps preparing him for Luther League or Bord of Trustee Council meetings in future parishes.  If ever dad showed signs of fatigue, it was after Council Meetings.  He cared for his flocks so much that he gave his all!

When it came time for college, his dad found him filling out an application for Jamestown College where he was offered a track scholarship.  Alfred said: "If you go to Jamestown, you are on your own.  If you go to Concordia, I will pay the tuition, provided you work at the farm in summers.  You can earn your own room and board by working at school."   So off to Concordia Moorhead pursuing a degree in chemistry, which dad proved he was no good at.  Dad didn't use the word fail much. He would say he proved that he couldn't do something only after he tried doing it.  He actually used the word "fail" when it came to chemistry.  God is good, sometimes he lets us fail to teach us something.  Dad wasn't sure what that was.

Returning to the farm as a substitute for having a plan for his life, he there proved he couldn't "see eye to eye" with his dad.  This encouraged him to go back to Concordia where he went after two majors:  Religion and Sociology.  Minus that semester he took off, he still managed to finish in 3 and one half years.  He was getting smarter, and even picked up Greek, a requirement for future seminary.

He took a correspondence electronics repair course somewhere in these years.  Since the Korean war was drafting young men, he was hoping to avoid combat by having a non-combat skill.  This later led to an electronics hobby where he built our home stereo systems.  Rachmaninoff, Bach, Chopin and other classics were the playlist in our home.  Thanks Mom and Dad for the gift of music in our home!

Back at Concordia for the second time he was soon feeling more of the call but was not yet convinced.  Reluctantly filling out an application for seminary, he hesitantly put it in the mail.  When he let go of the envelope and it dropped into the mailbox, the Spirit moved in him, and he let go of his hesitations and dropped his doubts.  At that very moment he was graced with the peace of knowing he was called to be a pastor.

One day when attending bible study in Old Main at Concordia, he met a young freshman gal named Valborg.  He was a senior heading to seminary and her a fellow native speaking Norsky.  She was also slightly Swedish and wasn't looking to be a pastor's wife, but they managed to get along anyway.  Val prayed to accept the Lord's call on LeRoy and the Lord provided. He graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN; and started at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN the next fall, while Val remained at Concordia to earn her Teacher's Certificate.  Val taught a couple of years of grade school while Dad was off to seminary.

In between seminary years Dad spent two summers in Idaho working for the forestry service pulling invasive plants and fighting forest fires.  Living in a tent was probably easy for him as it wasn't that far from ND farm life without the modern conveniences.  He later brought the passion of camping to our family.  As I remember our first green canvas tent, it was perhaps an upgrade from his days in the woods.  Or maybe not.

In 1955 LeRoy and Val were married in Erskine, MN, Val's home church.  Grandpa Alfred was concerned if LeRoy could "afford a wife".  Then it was off to Philip, SD for Dad's internship where the Pastor of those three parishes decided to leave just before LeRoy arrived.   LeRoy, this fresh seminarian, doubled his preaching experience the first Sunday giving sermons at all three parishes without another shepherd to guide him.  He proved he could do it.  The parish eventually talked another pastor to come alongside dad so he could learn a bit.  They probably learned to start loving South Dakota.

After that year of internship, LeRoy and Val returned to St. Paul for LeRoy's final year.   Lois was born just after Christmas.  Dad's Luther seminary graduation in 1957 was held at Central Lutheran church in Minneapolis.  The very place that his parents had eloped to be married many years before.  Perhaps this is the day that grandpa Alfred expressed to dad: "I'm glad you are a pastor, I just think you picked the wrong church."  Dad always declared acceptance for any church that preached Christ Crucified for our sin and redemption and he had many ecumenical minister / pastor / priest / nun friends whom he considered associates.

Another note on dad's studious nature.  In seminary one class required them to answer a test essay question in a language besides English.  Dad chose to study German for this purpose, and he also wanted to be able to read Martin Luther's works in the original language.  When it came time for the test, his hand went automatically to answering the question in Norwegian.

Then it was time to find a parish that would have LeRoy.  The seminary placement committee received a call letter from a six parish group around Bison SD.  The letter had a blank space where they would normally fill in a candidate's name, but Bison area folks were so in need of a pastor they handed in the letter and said, "put someone's name in there".    The president of the seminary encouraged LeRoy and Val to go check it out.

Bison area church members received them well except for one person who declared "If you think you can do things the way we do, then you are welcome to try, but if you don't, then leave!"  They left, vowing not to look back.   But the Lord had other plans. When graduation came, they bought some furniture, rented a cattle truck and moved to Bison.  Stepping out in faith, LeRoy accepted the challenge.

He spent half of his first-year salary on his car going to all six parishes and visiting as many families and ranches as possible.  Once he went out to a ranch, having to go thru six barbed wire fence gates, stopping to open and then closing them behind him, only to find the family gone for the day.  Back out thru the six gates.  The people of NW SD were good to our family, gifting us every Sunday with a place to eat, and supplying chickens and other farm goods to supplement our growing family.

Years later at another parish where a mileage reimbursement was instituted, a Trustee questioned all of Dad's mileage and asked him to prove it.  Dad grudgingly kept a diary of all he daily activities, visitations, meetings and turned it in to the untrusting trustee. He would rather spend his time in ministry than waste it on writing all those details.  The skeptic relented, not understanding how a person could have energy for that kind of schedule.  More on hard work in the next sections.

After six years, the Bison area six parishes built 3 new church buildings and split into two groups.  Dad was working hard as a pastor.  Val dug in as wife, mother, homemaker, pastor's wife, pianist/organist, ladies aid and entertaining at home.  Hard work was their effort, but the Lord did the work. One baby was lost in these years, and Paul and Ruth were added.  Praise Him from whom all Blessings flow.

In 1962 it was off to Mobridge SD where LeRoy spent 9 years as Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran.  It was here that Val and LeRoy learned to depend more on the Lord and less on their own works and strength.  Dependance on God helped in their marriage and in their roles as Husband / Pastor and Wife / Pastor's Wife.  They also had a growing interest in the movement of the Holy Spirit in the early days of the charismatic revival.  MaryBeth was added to the family in 1964.  Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.

Val became very ill in these days and was rescued to Mayo for a month-long stay with LeRoy by her side.  He provided places for us to stay with friends around town.  He was always a help when needed and would take over caregiving when Val needed rest.  "The greatest gift a man can give his children is to love their mother", LeRoy would say.  And he lived it.  Highlights of his kitchen anticks were his famous "skillet dinners".  A stick of butter melted in a cast iron pan, followed by handfuls of whatever leftovers were in the fridge.  That and a lot of boney Northern Pike.

The dog Snoopy came along while in Mobridge.  Snoopy, who even though a dog, would have some spiritual influence in his short time with us.  This is one of the extremely few times I can remember Dad doing anything against Mom's wishes by getting "that dog".  On a summer afternoon, Snoopy would start barking excitedly, and sure enough there would next be the sound of Dad's car on the road.  Snoopy was always the first one to hear dad coming home, and the first to greet him.  Dad later dreamed that when he got to heaven, Snoopy was the first to greet him.  I reminded Dad of that dream just moments before he died.  I didn't know Dad was going home just then, perhaps Snoopy did.

Jesus certainly knows the moment and hour of our coming home and he knows us well.  Jesus tells us he has prepared a place for us and supplies the Way to get there.  I reminded dad of that too that night. Even though he knew it well, it is good for us to remind each other; someone might need to hear it from you.

Mobridge was on the Oahe, so fishing was close by.  Dad would run into the house tearing off his clerical collar and outfit, pulling on jeans and shouting "get the gear and the dog", were going fishing!  Then it would be piling into the 67 Ford, off to the river.  As we fished dad would say "it's a great day to be fishing", whether we caught anything or not.  Then he'd be looking at his watch and say "back to home!".  If none of us kids fell in the lake, it would be considered a successful trip.  As soon as we reached home, he'd get collared up again and head back to church for a meeting or wedding or both.  He was full of energy as a husband, dad, pastor, and full of life for those on his journey with him.  When he was a Dad he was a Dad to the full.  He was a good Christ believing man that made him a good husband, father, and shepherd.

Aberdeen SD to Bethlehem Lutheran was the next call from 1970 to 1974.  Here dad was blessed with fellow shepherds Glen and Jim.  He recalls these as his best staff years as those three worked very well together, mostly because they left each other alone.  This is a management style that worked well for dad with future staff.  He continued to counsel people and mom and dad were involved more in charismatic groups and did some marriage counseling of other couples.  These are years where we learned from them the importance of having good peer friends and being involved in church ministries.  Dad took me on a drive one day to tell me he was considering a new call in another town and asked me if that would be OK.  He was considerate in all decisions and concerned with the impact of family changes like this.  Thank you, Dad, for the gift of care.

Dad was called, and accepted to Hope Lutheran in Sioux Falls, SD.  1974 thru 1985 were building years again.  By 1985 a new worship hall was added to Hope.  Mom and Dad were also engaged in a ministry that took them to Finland and Nigeria.   They also traveled to Norway, Japan, and The Holy Land where dad preached for his fellow travelers at the tomb of Jesus and was invited to speak at a conference in Finland.

Being a lifelong learner, he received a Doctor of Ministry degree from North American Baptist Seminary, Sioux Falls, SD.   And wrote a Finding Your Spiritual Gifts inventory and guide.  His library collection rivaled most scholars and he always had interests in a variety of people, places, cultures.  Along the way he learned Greek and Hebrew to help his bible study and German to help supplement his reading about Martin Luther.

Rapid City was dad's next call in 1985 to Trinity Lutheran.  He served there until retirement at age 65.  It was another building project, only this time it was the flock that needed growing.  A radio program and outreach to the needy in the local community where a couple of involvements.  If anyone has made it this far in reading this tribute, and you are from "around the hills", you certainly know more about the doings than I could fill in about Trinity on Kansas Street.  So, I'll write about family.

Us kids were married and getting married, had kids and were having kids so the Flagstad clan was growing, and mom and dad were pleased to "see their children's children".   We would descend on the Red House on St Cloud every other Christmas and many summers.  Highlights were having dad grill steaks on the patio and fighting over who would sleep in the rooms without heat or the firebox room that had ALL the heat.  Dad developed an obsession with seeing how low he could get the gas bill by burning wood for heat in the Franklin Stove he proudly installed in the lower room.

Dad and mom were blessed with a camper and a place to park it all summer in Custer and started to spend more time there together.  Whatever they did, it was hand in hand.  Mom backed up dad in ministry and they supplied constant companionship for each other.  One of my favorite pictures from those days is a group shot of our growing families with dad smiling and holding on to mom's arm, as if to show, "I need you.  With you, we are blessed, all of us".  Dad was always good about promoting and admiring mom, giving her his first and best, a model for us all.

After retiring at 65, dad shared a position with Jim Hanson at the Chapel in the Hills until he was 70.  Soon after he was called as interim pastor back to Trinity for a one year span.  There were doings in the church that dad handled with grace and peace.  He was a healer and a peacemaker, a restoring soul offering the reconciliation that can only come from the Lord.

Dad was restless when he felt his call was complete in a congregation. I asked Dad why he thought he should leave one place and go to another.  His response was that "When I feel like I have done all that I was called to do in a particular place, it is time to take on a new challenge."   We moved around a bit.

Dad wasn't talking much during those final days in HealthCare.  His life had done all the talking in those 91 years of faithful service to the Lord.  Dad would say "let your works do your talking for you". But it is good to talk.  And he did a lot of that before the strokes!   May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord,  my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 Dad would begin some sermons with this phrase asking the Lord for blessing as he spoke.   Thursdays were his sermon writing days, but sometimes Saturday night revisions were typed at LC Smith, an ancient typewriter that I was amazed didn't crumble beneath his big hands.  And then there were Sundays where he said he would abandon his own prepared words and "get out of God's way" and let the Spirit speak thru him.  He would look over the congregation and see that the Lord had a new message for the flock that day.

In case you were wondering what it was to grow up in a household this pastor / father / dad, here is a verse that comes to mind about dad: "He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?" 1 Timothy 3:4-5 (ESV) I would say, and especially for me, that none of us kids were submissive all the time, if you understand submissive to be well-behaved.  But we were Graced into shape by the great love that dad and mom had for us. That "managing the household" part only worked because mom and dad were a united and loving team.   Thank you, Mom + Dad!

Dad quoted Psalm 103 to us in one of his last lucid moments.  He used this Psalm as his Dad Playbook, especially the part that says "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love."  Read the whole thing for yourself, you will be blessed too.

I held dad's hand on that last day, amazed that while the rest of him was withered, his hands seemed still large to me.  His hands of faithful service to the Lord.  The building of churches, raising of children, caressing of wife, scooping the waters of baptism, hands raised in blessings and praise to the Lord, carving, praying, healing, shoulder patting, fishing, communion serving, meet grilling, farm-working hands.  Dad's hands were large even in the last day, the hands of a working man.  The hands of a gentle loving man.

The work of those hands still points others to Jesus thru the many he's spurred to the ministry of the gospel.   Your hands can do that too!  The Lord created dad to be who he was.  Go and be who you were created to be and know that Jesus is expecting you at home.   Soli Deo Gloria!