Obituary of Rev. David Theodore Lillegard

At the age of 87, the Reverend David Theodore Lillegard died on Nov. 5, 2022, at Indian River Center Nursing Home in West Melbourne, FL. He had struggled with dementia for the last few years of his life, but cared for by his wife Ione, the light of his life, he was able to remain at home until the last five months. He is survived by his wife and five children: Debbie (Eric) Blumer of Lakewood, CO; Deanna (Jeffrey) Palmer of Madison, SD; Matthew Lillegard of Minneapolis, MN; Naomi (Mike) Marzinske of South St. Paul, MN; and Joanne (Justin) Knott of Sebastian, FL. He’s also survived by his grandchildren: David Blumer, Joshua (Danielle) Palmer, Caleb Palmer, Diana (Drew) Carter, Danielle (Carl) Wold, Kari Marzinske, Jacob Marzinske, Liliana Knott, and Gabriel Knott: three great-grandchildren: Jaina Cartner, Rosalie Carter, and Alice Wold: sister Alice Maxfield of Laurel, MD, and his brother Norman Lillegard of Martin, TN. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Betty Honsey, Marge Shelvik, Laura Lillegard, George Onstad Lillegard, and Larry Lillegard.

David Theodore Lillegard, the son of the Reverend George Oliver Lillegard and Agnes Bernice Lillegard, was born on September 2, 1935, in Boston, Massachusetts, the seventh of eight children. He attended school in Newton, MA, and Mankato, Minnesota, graduating from Bethany Lutheran High School in 1952. He graduated from Bethany Lutheran College (Junior College) in 1954, and Northwestern College in 1956. He received his master of divinity from Bethany Lutheran Seminary (Evangelical Lutheran Synod) in 1960 and was ordained on Sept. 10, 1961.

David was married to Ione Alvira Sundbom on Aug. 14, 1960, at Concordia Lutheran Church in rural Clearbrook, MN. Their marriage was blessed with five children, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. They shared 11 homes where David served as pastor - some on the foreign mission field: New Hampton, IA; Trail, MN; Oklee, MN; Suttons Bay, MI; Luverne, MN; San Jose, Costa Rica; Lima, Peru; Mayville, ND, Sebastian, FL; and Santiago, Chile. As a member of the ELS Mission Board, he traveled to many countries. In recent years he was a member at New Hope Lutheran Church in Melbourne, FL (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod).

There will be a memorial service on December 27 at 2 pm:

New Hope Lutheran Church

870 Hollywood Blvd

West Melbourne FL

Memorial gifts: to New Hope (above) or to Peru and Chile Missions (below):

Evangelical Lutheran Synod

6 Browns Court

Mankato MN 56001