11/20/2014

Obituary for The Rev. Dr. Trygve Skarsten

The Rev. Dr. Trygve Rolf Skarsten, 86, was called home to his Lord and Savior on November 14, 2014 following cardiac arrest on November 6, 2014. His love of Christ which informed and sustained his life, sustains his family now.

Dr. Skarsten was born on June 15, 1928 in Brooklyn, NY, the oldest of three children born to the late Mary and Johannes Skarsten. His parents, Norwegian immigrants, instilled in him the love of Christ, family, heritage, and learning. He was immersed in the Norwegian Lutheran community and attended Norwegian language services at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, NY until the age of 13. He recalled his mother’s frequent admonitions to “go out into the world and be a happy Christian. You are a child of the King, now go out and live for Him and serve Him.”

Dr. Skarsten attended Wagner College on Staten Island, NY where he met the love of his life, Ruth Stangeland. Following graduation from Wagner in 1949, Dr. Skarsten pursued a graduate degree in Political Science from Columbia University. While attending Columbia, he received his call to the ministry, and in 1950 began his seminary studies at Luther Seminary in St Paul, MN. In 1952, following his graduation from Luther Seminary, he attended the University of Oslo Theological School as a Fulbright Scholar.

Upon return to the United States in 1954, Dr. Skarsten was called to serve at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Elizabeth, NJ. He was ordained in his home congregation, Zion Lutheran Church, Staten Island, NY. During his ministry at Bethlehem, he earned a M.Th. degree in Church History from Princeton Theological Seminary. In 1958, Dr. Skarsten was called to serve Calvary Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ.

In 1964, Dr. Skarsten followed the call to serve the Lord through a ministry of teaching. He pursued his doctorate in Church History at the University of Chicago Divinity School while serving as assistant pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Park Forest, IL.

Following completion of his Ph.D., he became Assistant Professor of Religion at Sweet Briar College in VA. From Sweet Briar, Dr. Skarsten was called to Yale University Divinity School in New Haven, CT where he was Assistant Professor of Church History; Reformation and Modern Church History. In 1972, Dr. Skarsten was able to fulfill his persistent dream of teaching at a Lutheran Seminary. He became Professor of Church History at the now Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, OH. Dr. Skarsten remained at Trinity Lutheran Seminary until 1990. His tenure was interrupted only by a sabbatical year spent as a Lutheran World Federation Exchange Professor at Luther Seminary in North Adelaide, Australia. In 1990, Dr. Skarsten was again called to make a change in his ministry, having been asked to assume the Presidency of Lutheran Bible Institute in Issaquah, WA (now Trinity Lutheran College). He remained at Trinity Lutheran College until his retirement in 1994 when he returned to Ohio.

During his retirement, Dr. Skarsten remained active in Epiphany Lutheran Church, in Pickerington, OH, the Pickerington Public Library, and the Pickerington Historical Society. He remained active in his ministry as a pulpit supply pastor and daily witness to his faith. Throughout his life, Dr. Skarsten remained focused on his two passions, Love of the Lord for whom all you do should be a witness and love of family. These gifts were handed down through his parents and given to his children and grandchildren. We have been blessed by the gift of him in our lives.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Ruth Gloria (Stangeland) Skarsten, Children Linda (John) Ibsen , Cheryl (Phillip) Alban, Kevin (Debbie) Skarsten and Caryn (David) Ginter and grandchildren, John Ibsen, Sara Skarsten, Evan Alban, Emily Skarsten, Jadyn Williams, Austin Alban, Haley Skarsten, Matthew Skarsten, Jenny Ibsen, Tyler Skarsten, Jacob Skarsten, Logan Skarsten and Zachary Skarsten. He is also survived by his sister Mrs. Ingeborg (James) Hofrenning. Dr. Skarsten is preceded in glory by his parents, Mary and Johannes Skarsten, and his brother the Reverend John M. Skarsten.

Calling hours will he held on Friday, November 21 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm and again Saturday morning from 10-11 am at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 268 Hill Rd N, Pickerington, Ohio.  The funeral service will be held at Epiphany on Saturday, November 22 at 11 am. 

The family asks that in leiu of flowers, donations be made to either Faith Mission, in Columbus Ohio, www.faithmissionofohio.org or World Mission Prayer League, www.wmpl.org