Name:            Rev. Elmer S. Odland

Address:        2100 Valkyrie Dr. NW #315

City:               Rochester, MN 55901

Phone:            507  2eight1 - 2241

 

Spouse:          Joan Perrenoud Odland

 

 

 

 

 

Careers you have pursued since Augie graduation
       I have served as pastor with 30 years in three North Dakota parishes and 15 years in Southeast Minnesota.  On August 19th, I observed my 45th year of ordination.  Though retired, I am serving two days a week as Visitation Pastor in Trinity Lutheran, Owatonna, MN

 

Cities/places you have lived since graduation.
       Neuendettelsau, Germany, a village of 2000; St. Paul, MN for 3 years of my seminary training; San Diego, CA for a year of internship; Lignite, ND a town of 350; Washburn, ND, a town of 2000 in “energy” country; Minot, ND, 50,000 including Minot AFB; Rushford, MN a town in bluff country; Rochester, MN, medicine city

 

Foreign countries you have visited.
      Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Mexico, Israel, Jordan, Bulgaria, Ukraine

                  1957  EDDA Photo

List your specialized training or graduate studies after Augie graduation.
        I studied Theology in Neuendettelsau, Germany and taught English;  I completed a Masters in Divinity at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.  I've taken numerous continuing ed classes

Important people in your life: spouse, children, grandchildren.
       Joan Perrenoud Odland and I have been married 48 years and we've reared 3 children.
       Catherine is married to Patrick Hurley and they're living in Oakland, CA along with their two daughters, Ana 11 and Nora 7.  Steven lives in Beaverton, OR and is in a career change- third year of Doctor of Optometry.  Julie is married to Chris Elbich.  They live in Philadelphia and are the parents of Severin 3.  They're expecting a girl any day.

Favorite Augustana memory, professor or class.
       I'll always remember our 7:45 history class with Prof. Meyer, because he used a seating chart, Joan sat next to me, the beginning of a long relationship.  Favorite professors were Stanley Olsen, Don and Lucy Fryxell, Gerhard Schmutterer.

Additional information you would like to share with your classmates
       Five years ago at the banquet we shared some of the frivolous memories of Augustana.  I want to share some deeper memories.  I treasure being taught by professors who had knowledge & wisdom and taught through the lens of a deep Christian faith.  I learned how intellect and faith can be integrated.  I gained life long friends including my wife, Joan.  Augustana taught me to be a whole person as body, mind, and spirit were nurtured in the classroom, in the dorms, in the social activities, and in free time interaction.  The words of our class song say it so well for me, “As we march on through life, we'll let love o-ercome strife, thanking God Augustana for you”.