Keith Nolan Olmanson

Keith Nolan Olmanson of Mankato, MN, was taken to be with the Lord on May 26, 2016. Praise be to God.

A victory service will be held at 2pm, Thursday, June 2, 2016 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 421 N. 2nd Street, Mankato with visitation beginning at noon. Private graveside service will be held at Green Lawn Cemetery in Nicollet. Mankato Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Keith Nolan Olmanson was born in St. Peter, MN on July 28, 1929 to Bennett and Helen (Jacobson) Olmanson and was baptized on September 15. He was the oldest of seven children. Keith graduated from St. Peter High School in 1947. He attended Bethany Lutheran Junior College in Mankato and Northwestern Lutheran College in Watertown, WI. He graduated from Bethany Lutheran Seminary in 1955.

He served 40 years as a Lutheran pastor. His first call was to the Jerico-Saude parish in NE Iowa. There, he met Sonja Johnson, who became his wife on August 11, 1957. In January of 1958, Keith began serving Ascension Lutheran in Eau Claire, WI. During his time in Eau Claire, Keith became a founding member of the Church of the Lutheran Confession (CLC) synod, of which he remained a member until his death. He served several CLC congregations over the years, including Messiah in Eau Claire, WI; Faith in Nicollet, MN; Salem in Eagle Lake, MN; Immanuel in Mankato; and Faith in New Ulm, MN. He also served vacancy positions in Texas, Florida, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Keith was a devoted father, who led his family and congregations with the Word of God. By his faith in Christ as his only Savior, and by his example as a man devoted to his Lord, he led many others to follow the path to eternal life. He enjoyed reading, gardening, hunting, fishing, and watching football and other sports. He belonged to a local Norwegian club and the Hedmark Lag. He translated Civil War letters written in Norwegian by his great-grandfather, Bernt Olmanson, a soldier of the Civil War. He had opportunities to travel in Scandinavia as well as throughout the United States.

He is survived by Sonja, his beloved wife of 58 years; eight children, Karl (Elizabeth), Daniel (Rachel), Andrew (Shireen), Marie (Dale) Muehlenhaupt, Paula (Bruce) Naumann, Amy (Steve) Sippert, John (Sarah), and Rachel (Loren) Hansen; twenty-two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brothers, Duane, Omar (Kathleen), and Leif (Karla); sisters, Hope (Dale) Redlin and Carol (Arlyn) Strege; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Evan; mother-in-law and father-in-law; two sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law.