Rev. Howard Skulstad, age 79, of Blaine died July 9, 2023 at The Farmstead in Andover. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, July 29th at Glen Cary Lutheran Church in Ham Lake. A Memorial Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P. M. Friday, July 28th at Glen Cary Lutheran Church as well as one hour prior to the service Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association or Glen Cary Lutheran Mission and Outreach Ministry.
Howard Allen Skulstad was born January 16, 1944 to Carl and Harriet (Nelson) Skulstad in Clarkfield, MN. Howard was baptized February 13, 1944 and confirmed June 28, 1959. He grew up on the family farm in rural Granite Falls and was active in 4-H and Future Farmers of America. He loved going to the State Fair with his calves. Howie attended school in Granite Falls, MN graduating in 1962 and attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota graduating in 1966 with a degree in Business Administration. He then spent a year in Norway, teaching at a private business college in Oslo as well as attending the University, meeting Norwegian relatives, and visiting relatives at the Skulstad home along the west side of the Samfjorden, in Brattvåg. He enrolled in Luther Seminary in September 1967.
In May of 1969 he married Kristin Graf in Minneapolis and they spent the following year in Santa Rosa, California where he completed his year of internship at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Howard graduated Luther Seminary in May, 1971. Following his ordination on July 25, 1971, he began his first Parish Call to Evangelical Lutheran Church of Heron Lake, MN and Delafield Lutheran Church of Wilder, MN. He also served Shiloh Lutheran Church, Elmore, MN; Zion Lutheran, Buffalo Lake, MN; Epiphany Lutheran, Eagle Lake, MN; and Long Lake Lutheran, Isanti, MN. He retired from full-time ministry in April of 2009 and then served interim ministries at St. John’s Lutheran, Mound, MN; Bethany Lutheran, South Minneapolis; Glen Cary Lutheran, Ham Lake, MN and Immanuel Lutheran, Princeton, MN.
Howie’s hobby was visiting with people—in the church, on the street, in the coffee shop or bakery or at Target Field where he worked for the Minnesota Twins in Guest Services. He loved hearing people’s stories. He touched and impacted many lives and will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
Howard is survived by his wife, Kristin; son, Hans (Jennie) of Plymouth; daughter, Rachel (Brian) of New Hope; grandsons, Hobey and David; brother, Curtis (Cindy) of Granite Falls; sister, Carol (Ken) of Robbinsdale ; brother-in-law, Steve, of Bemidji; aunt, Violet Nelson of Seattle, WA.; many nieces and nephews and other loving relatives and friends. Howard was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Harriet (Nelson) Skulstad; brother, James; and sister, Susan.
I had the pleasure to work with Howard when he was the interim Pastor at Bethany Lutheran on 36th ave In South Minneapolis. I was the Organist and Choir director at this church.
Howie had a way on making everyone feel welcome and valued.
He always asked where you were from and your past history as he cared about each individual person.
I will miss our talks and his stories of his past history.
Both Archie and I enjoyed his visits at our home as well.
Howie rest in peace
Our Deepest sympathy to his family at this time of loss.
Russ Peterson and
Howard is already missed. He was a wonderful man who, despite that I was supposed to be there to help him, he always asked how my mother was doing. Such a kind and loving man. My thoughts and prayers are with Howard’s family.
Who could not enjoy a good conversation with Howie? what a kind, smart and interesting man. God and he will have some good times.
It’s so hard to lose someone who has been so significant in one’s life. Pastor Howie was my mom and dad’s (Maxine and Harry) last pastor at Long Lake in Isanti before they moved to Barrett in 2000. They had utmost respect for him, and he for them. Pr. Howie confirmed the faith of four of my nieces and nephews, performed the marriages of my sister Michele, my two nieces, one of my nephews, the baptisms of several of my grand nieces and nephews, and I’m sure I’m forgetting something. Blessed be his memory, and his legacy for Christ. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” ~ The apostle Paul, Philippians 1:21.
~ “May the God of hope give you His peace, His shalom.” ~
Pastor Howard was one of my favorite people in the whole world. He taught me so much about my walk with Christ. Pastor Howard was our family Pastor at Long Lake Lutgeran Church from the time I was a young child until I was a young adult. I will never forget the many memories my family had with him. I loved joking with Pastor Howie and seeing his bright smile. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, and I smile knowing he is in Heaven living with our Lord.
-Tanya.
Prayers to the family. Your husband, father, grandfather, brother had a wonderful impact on my life…his presence and caring ways while serving at Shiloh Lutheran Church in Elmore made an awesome impression on this impressionable tween/teen 40+ years ago. We just never know the impact we make in other people’s lives—here’s wishing you all peace during this difficult time!
Howie was our pastor and the founder of Epiphany Lutheran in Eagle Lake. It was a delight to watch and listen to Howie in the pulpit. He was a big, bluff man who told us wonderful stories of faith who made our entire family, and all the members of Epiphany, feel embraced and supported by him, his family and the love and will of God. He was a force of nature who swept up the followers of Christ and made us all feel blessed and welcome. He was a very good man who taught us all about the joy to be found in the love of God. He was a good pastor and a very good man. I will miss him.
I have so much respect for Pastor Howie. He was a very special person during a challenging time in my family’s life.
Rest in Peace, Pastor Howie.
Howie was a high school classmate in Granite Falls and a good friend. After reading some of the comments of individuals who have written their condolences, I am not surprised by the effect that he had on his parishioners (and others, for that matter). It was significant. His obituary stated that his hobby was “visiting with people” and “that he loved to listen to other people’s stories.” This is a trait that is indeed rare. Most people want to tell “their story.” As a devout Christian, Howie lived his life in service to others – it is, quite simply, our Christian calling. To the family, please know that the many good memories you have of Howie will sustain you during this difficult time. And, of course, the effect he had on his parishioners and others will last forever. I am always reminded of a quote from a 19th century historian when I think of people like Howie. “A teacher (substitute “pastor”) affects eternity, he can never tell when his influence ends…..”
Howie was a Pastor at our Church Glen Cary in Ham Lake and he was such a nice man very friendly and caring. He officiated my Daughters wedding, which he was so calm and told us to relax all would be fine just enjoy the day! he also had alot of stories and was funny!!
Every once in a while, God places a person in your life that you will admire and love for many reasons. I feel greatly blessed to have had Howie as a spiritual guide and treasured friend to me and my husband, Roger. He told stories and sometimes I felt that he might be going off course a little. He told me that there was a sign on Highway 90 saying “Elmore, former home of Walter Mondale and Howard Skulstad”. I never did go to check it out :). He was the kind of man that one would wish would live forever to continue his mission of love and caring, at least I did. I miss you Howie, but I know you are greeting many friends in your heavenly home.
So sorry to hear of Pastor Skulstad’s passing…Or, as he was first know in Heron Lake…Pastor SKulstad (not Shulstad!!). He was a delite, and I guess I did not realize we were his first Parish. He was a great Minister, and I even ran into him in Mankato in later years. God Bless his memory, and may he rest in Peace. Sending prayers for his family; I will also ask that my prayer group pray for him and his family. Peace be with your Pastor Skulstad and with your family.
Others have spoken of Howard’s gift in conversing with people. I first met him when we both were ushers for the Minnesota Twins. He struck up a conversation in the break room. In only a few minutes he had learned much about me and I felt like I was communicating with a long lost friend. A few years later our paths aligned again when we were both volunteers at Mercy Hospital. I had actually seen Howard there previously when he stopped by to visit with a parishioner. Howard was ideally suited to minister to those stressed by medical issues. He has such a calming and welcoming manner about him. So whether giving directions to baseball fans or those stressed to be visiting loved ones in the hospital, I am certain everyone enjoyed Howard’ s attention to them. May he be rewarded for his service to others. Rest in peace.