G. Neil Christopherson

Gerald “Neil” Christopherson of Blue Earth was born to Halbert and Mae (Pickerill) Christopherson on a farm near Ostrander, MN on July 2, 1931. He attended rural schools near and in Ostrander, high school in Spring Valley, Luther College in Decorah, IA and received his BA from Concordia College in Moorhead. He attended Luther Seminary in St Paul from where he graduated in 1958. His internship was served at Grace and Petry Lutheran Churches in Ada, MN. Following seminary, he served as a Chaplain in the US Army from 1958-1962 in the US and Germany. He entered the service as a First Lieutenant and before his discharge he achieved the rank of Captain. This was followed by his serving churches in St. Charles, MN, Salt Lake City, UT, Borup and Felton, MN and Sverdrup and Tingvold Churches in Underwood, MN. He then became a chaplain at St Luke’s Lutheran Home in Blue Earth. He went on to briefly fill in several vacant congregations and concluded his official ministry as a part-time visitation pastor for 14 years at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont until fully retiring prior to the death of his wife Joan in 2014.

Neil and Joan Newburgh were married at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Paul in 1965.

He is survived by his son, Jonathan (Andrea) of Robbinsdale, two daughters, Isabella “Sue” Larson of Lake City, MN and Karen (Kris) Markeson of Waseca two grandchildren who he raised, Alyssa (Justin) Ratcliffe, Dillon (Cory) White and five others Alyson Diaz, Micah Wayner, Braydon (Carla) Ransom, Nathan and Taylor Markeson and one great-grandson, Jeremy Mack as well as many other extended family and friends.

Neil is preceded in death by his parents, wife Joan, infant brother, Loren Dale and lifelong friend from childhood Donald Dahl.

He wrote that himself years ago, updating it every few years with changes. He would only describe himself with basic facts and not the wonderful things we all knew him for. He adored his family and often bragged about each one of them any chance he could get. He opened his home to his children and grandchildren whenever and without question. They could always come home and did. He loved making lists and would always have a notecard and pen in his pocket to add to it. His favorite pastimes were going through old pictures and telling stories about each one. He loved family events and reunions. He could visit for hours, and we often joked that he could go anywhere in the world and find some common contact with any person he came across. He was one of those lucky people whose career defined him. He loved being a Pastor and ministered to thousands of people over the years. We’d like to imagine a crowd of people greeting him as he came into heaven with thunderous applause yelling choruses of “Well done good and faithful servant” as was said to him here on earth in his last moments. He entered heaven as his family surrounded his bedside, just as he would have wanted with one last gathering. He will be missed.

Neil passed away Friday, September 6, 2024, at UHD in Blue Earth at the age of 93. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 14, 1PM at Patton Funeral Home in Blue Earth. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 13th at the St Luke’s Chapel in Blue Earth from 2-4PM and again from 11-1PM Saturday, prior to services at Patton Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will be at Riverside Cemetery in Blue Earth. Online condolences can be left and a livestream of the funeral can be viewed at www.pattonfh.com