Rev. Gevik

The Rev. Dr. J. Dean Gevik, age 77, of Baxter, died June 6, 2009 at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.
Born August 23, 1931, at Hoffman, MN, the son of John and Mildred Gevik, he graduated from Hoffman High School in 1949 and attended Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953. While at Gustavus, he was editor of the colleges newspaper, The Gustavian Weekly.

He married Melba Johnson in St. Peter on June 8, 1956.

The Rev. Dr. Gevik graduated from Augustana Theological Seminary, Rock Island, IL, with a Master of Divinity degree in 1957 and was ordained into the Lutheran ministry. In 1985 he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN. After completing a Clinical Pastoral Education residency program at Ebenezer Society, Minneapolis, he was certified for specialized ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1988.

A contributor to a number of church periodicals and publications, the Rev. Dr. Gevik was the author and editor of five books, Hows the Weather out There?, Finding Meaning in the Later Years, Confessions of a Parish Pastor, Called To Serve, and Paradigms of Ministry.

The Rev. Dr. Gevik served as pastor of the following churches: Grace Lutheran Church, Ironwood, MI; Bethany and Incarnation Lutheran Churches, Shoreview, MN; Elim Lutheran Church, Scandia, MN; and Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church, Braham, MN. He also was chaplain of Lutheran Memorial Homes, Twin Valley and Halstad, MN, and part-time chaplain at Woodland Good Samaritan Center, Brainerd, MN. He served for over 40 years in parish and specialized ministries.

Most recently he was coordinator for luncheon meetings of the Heartland Conference retired pastors and spouses. He enjoyed attending the local pastors weekly Text Study and was a member of the Senior Morning Club at the Lakes Area Senior Activity Center.

Surviving are his wife, Melba; three children, Teresa Garin, Coon Rapids, MN, Linda (Tim) Bowman, Baxter, and James (Julie) Gevik, Fertile, MN; one grandchild, Heather Bowman, of Baxter; and several nephews and nieces.

Preceding him in death were his parents; two brothers, Marshall and Roscoe Gevik; one grandchild, Rachel Garin; and nephews Mark Gevik and Mark Johnson.

Funeral services will be held at Lord of Life Lutheran Church (junction of Highway 210 and Knollwood Drive in Baxter), on Saturday, June 20 at 11:00 AM. Friends are welcome to visit one hour prior to services. Interment will be in Bethel Cemetery, Hoffman, MN.