Obituary for Roger K. Dramstad

Roger Dramstad was born in Cooperstown, ND on July 28, 1948 to Harry and Lorraine Dramstad.He was baptized October 10, 1948 at Mabel Lutheran in Sutton, ND and confirmed in the faith on April 15, 1962 at Zion Lutheran in Binford, ND.He graduated from Binford High School in 1966.In his youth, Roger loathed taking care of chickens, and enjoyed causing trouble with his brothers, Russ and Duane, playing softball, baseball, football and basketball, working with his father, talking Twins baseball with his mother while enjoying her cooking, and going to Red Willow Resort.

It was in 1969 at Red Willow Resort, after finishing his Associates Degree at Concordia College in St. Paul, MN and studying for his B.S. at Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana which he completed in 1970, where he first saw Melissia, and told his brother he had found the girl he was going to marry.Thankfully, Melissia came up to him in the restaurant and asked him to buy her a cup of coffee.

In the fall of 1970, he continued his pastoral studies at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.While studying at Concordia Seminary, Roger headed to Los Angeles, CA to enroll in a Clinical Pastoral education course at California Hospital as part of his seminary training.After a quarter at the hospital, he left the seminary to pursue other career choices including a taxi cab driver, rendering truck, shoe salesman, Jack-n-the Box manager-in-training, tradesman, and more.He also enlisted in the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion (Seabees) for a six-year reserve enlistment.

In addition to gaining a wide variety of work experience, moving to California enabled him to be closer to Melissia. Roger married Melissia on April 28, 1973 at the Chapel of the Bells in Las Vegas.After living for a time in the Pasadena area with Melissia’s encouragement, Roger turned down a job as a postal worker and they made the journey to St. Louis for Roger to complete his pastoral training at the seminary.He was ordained in Jamison, Nebraska on June 27, 1976 at the church his father served as Lay Minister.

Pastor Dramstad served at the following Lutheran Churches (LCMS) during his ministry:Eastern Heights in St. Paul, MN from 1974-75, Trinity in Lake Crystal, MN and Salem in Madelia, MN from 1976-80, St. John’s in Madison, MN from 1980-95, and Eternal Hope in Brooklyn Park, MN from 1995 to his retirement in 2017.During his ministry, Pastor Dramstad had a passion for leading the youth while called to Lake Crystal, Madelia, and Madison.He was an organizer for the Minnesota-North National Youth Gathering groups.He also accompanied the youth of Eternal Hope on many trips.He has served Concordia University St. Paul in many ways as part of the Alumni Council.He also served on the board of Salt and Light Ministries.

While Roger had a passion for serving his people as a shepherd, he found his true calling in his family.On July 31, 1974, while in St. Louis, Alena was born to Roger and Melissia.While in Madison, Andrew was born on July 30, 1981. As a family, they enjoyed taking family road trips to places like Florida, South Dakota, Colorado, Mexico, Duluth, California and his homeland of North Dakota, going to concerts, golfing, eating ice cream, watching movies, going to breweries, planting flowers, taking Alena out for dad/daughter dates, talking sports and working with Andrew, and two-stepping with his love, Melissia.

Through Alena’s marriage to Greg Clark, on August 8, 2007, his greatest joy was born, Marlie Sophia Clark, his only grandchild.Grandpa Roger loved to play dolls, read books, color, eat gelato, swing, dance, and make silly faces with her.

After his battle with cancer, Roger was called to eternal glory on June 17, 2019 at home surrounded by the family that he loved.He was preceded into death by his father, Harry, mother, Lorraine, father-in-law, Kenneth, mother-in-law, Joyce and many other loved ones.He is survived by his wife, Melissia, daughter, Alena (Greg), son, Andrew, granddaughter, Marlie, brother Russ (Leann), brother Duane (Julie), brother-in-law Ken, and many cousins, nephews, nieces and their families.

Funeral service FRIDAY, 6/21, 11AM, Eternal Hope Lutheran Church, 10508 Douglas Drive N., Brooklyn Park. Visitation THURSDAY, 6/20, 5-7PM, Eternal Hope Lutheran Church, 10508 Douglas Drive N., Brooklyn Park; and 1 hr. prior to service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Eternal Hope Lutheran, Brooklyn Park.