Paul Henry Sanders died on April 22, 2026, at the age of 101 at the Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings, SD.
His memorial service will be at Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings on May 2 at 1 p.m. with family present for visitation one hour before the service. Committal service at Hills of Rest Cemetery in Sioux Falls will be at a later date.
Paul Sanders was born Nov. 4, 1924, to August and Kristine (Swiggum) Sanders in Balaton, MN. He attended school in Balaton and after graduation attended South Dakota State College (University) for one year. In June 1943 he was drafted into the Army. He served 31 months, a year of that in Iceland. After he was discharged, he enrolled at Augsburg College in Minneapolis to prepare for the Lutheran ministry. It was in his second week at Augsburg that he met Lorna Wilberg and fell in love. They were married June 19, 1948. Paul attended Luther Seminary and was ordained on May 27, 1951.
Paul and Lorna had three children: Rebecca (Mark) Ekeland, Michael (Stacey), and Sharon (Martin DeWitt) Sanders. Paul and Lorna loved to travel. While the children were young, they spent family vacations traveling and camping throughout the United States and Canada. After retirement they traveled to several countries and continents. Hawaii and the North Shore of Minnesota were their favorite destinations.
Paul served parishes in Saco, MT, Elroy, WI, Clear Lake, SD, and Sioux Falls, SD. In Sioux Falls he organized Peace Lutheran Church, a mission church of the ELCA, which he served for 24 years. He retired in 1989. In retirement he served as an interim pastor in five parishes, spent 11 years as a part-time visitation pastor at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, and served as a pulpit supply pastor in over 70 congregations in eastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, and northwestern Iowa.
Paul served on numerous boards and organizations throughout his ministry, including the Red Cross, Montana Synod Luther League, SD Synod Call Committee, Kiwanis Club, and Sioux Falls Ministerial Association. He was instrumental in starting the Night Chaplaincy Program at Sioux Valley Hospital (now Sanford).
Paul is survived by daughters Becky (and Mark), Sharon (and Martin), daughter-in-law Stacey, eight grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by Lorna, his wife of 70 years, his son Mike, grandson Nathan, great-grandchild Sincere, his parents, three siblings, Marie, Roy and Jeanne.
Memorials may be directed to Ascension Lutheran Church Wheels to Worship or Feeding Brookings and Luther Seminary in St, Paul, MN.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.eidsnessfuneralhome.com.
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