Alvin Gerhard Lewis, Jr.

Alvin was born to Alvin Lewis, Sr. and Beatrice (Rasmussen) Lewis in Tacoma, WA. He was the only child to the Pastor and his wife. They moved to St. Paul, MN, where his father became pastor at St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church. There Alvin attended the Willard Elementary School. He graduated from Murray High School and went on to college in South Dakota, where many of his relatives lived. He ended up at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN with a history major. Alvin then entered Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul and was ordained by his father at St. Anthony Park Lutheran in 1960. Pastor Al was called to serve the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Big Grove Crow River Grace Parish in Belgrade, MN. He was there from 1960-1970. He was next called to serve in Renville, MN at First Lutheran Church, where he stayed until 1986. His last call was to Trinity Lutheran Church in Montevideo, MN. He remained there until 1999. He was a most beloved pastor to all three churches, all which did not want to see him go.
Pastor Al married Judy (Berger Beals) Lewis on June 7, 1981. She had 3 daughters; Sydney Kelley, Stacey Danculovich, and Shelley Budke. From the step-daughters, Al acquired sons-in-law, 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Al retired to Marine on St. Croix, MN where he remained with Judy until her death in 2008. From there he moved to Stillwater, where he remained until moving into assisted living and the nursing home in Oak Park Heights, MN. He died peacefully at United Hospital on January 24, 2024.
Pastor Al was a traveler, a collector of beautiful things, and adventurer until the end.
Funeral service will be 11:00am Saturday, February 3, 2024 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 609 5^th St S, Stillwater, with visitation one hour prior. Interment will be 11:00am Monday, February 5 at Fairview Cemetery in Renville, MN. Memorials will be given to the 3 churches Pastor Al served during his career.