Beloved Husband, Dad, Grandpa and Great-Grandpa Jennings Feroe passed away Sunday morning, November 22, 2009, at the Northfield Hospital, at the age of 96.
Jennings Gotfred Feroe was born August 17, 1913, in Madison, Minnesota, to Albert and Jensena (Anderson) Feroe. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church and graduated from Madison Normal School in 1931. In 1935, he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Teaching from St. Olaf College and in 1939 graduated from Luther Seminary. In August 1939, he went to study at an independent seminary in Oslo, Norway, and during that time he witnessed the occupation by the Nazis. In 1940, he returned to the United States and helped establish a home mission church in Ingleside, Illinois, north of Chicago. He then joined the US Navy and served from February 1943 to December 1945, part of that time as Chief of Chaplains at the Hawaii Air Force Base. He married Elaine Hjortland on January 21, 1945, at Ascension Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, they moved to Mankato where he served as pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church until June 1973. They moved to Northfield and Jennings worked in the Development Department at St. Olaf College until 1979. He served as visitation pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church from 1979 until retiring in 1997.
Jennings was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and Retired Ministers Group. He was former board president of Lutheran Social Services, Chairman of the Board of Missions of the ELCA, former vice-president of the Southern Minnesota Synod, and a former Regent and Distinguished Alumnus of St. Olaf College. He enjoyed collecting valentines, post cards, feeding the birds, and he was an avid fan of St. Olaf athletics. He was a wise and compassionate man who cared deeply about his family, his friends, the church and St. Olaf College. He was a master of the art of conversation and loved for his ability to tell a good story.
Survivor include his wife of almost 65 years, Elaine; 5 children: Mark of Duluth, Mary and husband Ted Hovey of Roseville, Bruce and wife Kathy of Duluth, Lois and husband Roger Tinker of Coon Rapids, Ellen Hedrick of Richmond, VA; 6 granddaughters: Sonja (Jacob) Broten, Kari Hovey, Carly & Heidi Feroe, Kristen & Janel Tinker; 3 great-grandchildren: Nehemiah, Evangeline & Athanasius Broten; his brother-in-law, John Hjortland of Chicago; his cousin Donald (Jean) Feroe of Richfield; his nephews and niece: John and Paul Feroe, Ann Keuper and David Hjortland; and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother and sister-in-law Art and Lucille.
Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, November 25, 2009, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield with Revs. Joseph Crippen, Diane Goulson and John Quam officiating. Music will be provided by Heidi Feroe, Daniel Fenn and Andrea Een. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Bob Gelle, Gary Knutson, Dean Ostlie, Bob Phelps, Joe Shaw and John Walters. Visitation will begin at Noon on Wednesday at the church.
Memorials are preferred to St. John’s Lutheran Church, St. Olaf College or Northfield Retirement Center.
Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.