Rev. E. Richard "Dick" Urdahl. Heaven welcomes this traveling Pastor, who was born May 30, 1931, and returned to his heavenly home (not Norway) on Dec. 1, 2015. Those who are left behind, but hope to join him one day are his wife Ruth (Nee Hodik), daughters Melissa and Alyson, grandchildren Alisandra and A.J., and his brother Marlowe (Margie) along with other relatives.

His service to our Gracious God included Montana (his home state), Wisconsin (as an intern at Ascension Lutheran Church), Indiana (Chaplain to Lutheran students at Purdue University), Canada (University chaplain at Waterloo Lutheran University) and in Queens, New York, for the last 25 years of his ministry.

Richard's earthly journey has ended, but his spirit lives on in the lives he touched and through the jokes he told. His laugh could be heard during those quiet moments in church and over the din of social gatherings, and it was infectious. We imagine his journey continues in Valhalla where he tells Ole and Lena jokes with the other Viking gods, and has an endless supply of Lefse, but limited supply of Lutefisk. Uffda!

Celebration of life was at St. Stephen the Martyr Lutheran Church, Greendale, Wis., on Dec. 6, 2015. Memorials can be made to Lutheran World Relief.