Rev. Arvid M. Salvhus, 75, of Mahnomen, Minnesota died Saturday, Feb. 18th 2012 in Sanford Health System, Fargo, North Dakota.

Arvid was born July 19, 1936 near McIntosh, Minnesota the son of Andrew and Minnie (Dyrdahl) Salvhus. He grew up and helped on the family farm along with his brothers and sisters. Arvid attended country school through the 8th grade before attending high school at the McIntosh High School, where he graduated with the class of 1953. After high school he worked in construction for a short time. Arvid enrolled at Concordia Lutheran College in Moorhead graduating with a teaching degree in three years in 1957. While a full time student he also worked full time for Coca Cola Bottling Company in Moorhead. After graduation, he accepted his first teaching job at Lovell, Wyoming where he taught junior high social studies. It was here that he met and later married his wife, Lori. On December 29, 1961 he and Lori Clark were married in her hometown of Lawrence, Kansas. They made their home in Lovell until moving to Laramie, Wyoming where he started the German program at the high school. Arvid was on the Laramie teaching staff for the next 20 years. In the early 1960's, he took part in the Fulbright exchange program where they lived and he taught in Germany for a year. In the late 1960's Arvid earned his master's degree in German Studies. In 1982, they moved to Ft. Wayne, Indiana where he enrolled at the Concordia Theological Seminary (LCMS) and received his master's degree in theology. While attending seminary Arvid taught English Composition at Indiana Perdue University in Ft. Wayne. The fourth year they moved to Superior, Wisconsin where he served as a vicar at Christ Lutheran and Faith Lutheran in Maple, Wisconsin for one year, graduating in 1986. From 1986 until 1989 they made their home in St. Helens, Oregon where he was the pastor at Calvary Lutheran Church. They returned to McIntosh where he was CRM. They moved to Warren, Minnesota where he served both Immanuel and Zion Lutheran congregations before moving to Twin Valley, Minnesota. They made their home in Twin Valley for the next 8 years while Arvid was the pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church. After his retirement in early 2001, they moved to a hobby farm east of Mahnomen, Minnesota. When the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mahnomen and St. John's Lutheran Church rural Ada, Minnesota congregations were in need of a pastor, Arvid was asked to fill in until a full time pastor could be found. Arvid has been their pastor for the past 10 years and was currently the pastor for both churches at the time of his death.

When time permitted Arvid enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, cooking and baking. He was an avid reader and always loved spending time with his family and when they would go on family vacations. In 2010, Arvid and Lori went to Haiti on a Lutheran Mission trip where he taught and enjoyed the time spent there. His family and friends will always have fond memories of Arvid and his well-used coffee cup where ever he went and how much he loved ice cream.


Arvid is survived by his wife, Lori of Mahnomen, MN; son, Andrew Michael (Melissa) Salvhus of LaPorte, MN; daughters Carol Salvhus of Detroit Lakes, MN and Heidi (Chris) Yost of Ada, MN; eight grandchildren; brothers, David (Sandy) Salvhus and Daniel (Mary) Salvhus all of McIntosh, MN; sister, Marilyn Hamre of McIntosh, MN: brother-in-law, Glen Brua of McIntosh, MN and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Joanne Brua, brother-in-law, Leighton Hamre and nephew, Kevin Hamre.

Funeral services were held Friday, Feb. 24th at 11:00am in St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Ada, Minnesota. Visitation was Thursday from 5:00pm until 7:00pm with a prayer service at 7:00pm at St. John's Lutheran Church. Officiating was Rev. Dean Bell with Nathaniel Yost serving as Crucifer and Laurain Jurchen serving as organist. Vocalists were DeeDe Grieve and Kevin Jensen. Pallbearers were Rev. Steven Bohler, Rev. Timothy Winterstein, Rev. David Laue, Rev. Dr. Mark Buchhop, Rev. Aaron Zuch, Rev. John Baumgardner. Rev. Robert Behling, and Rev. Dennis O'Neill. Honorary pallbearers were all of his grandchildren: Danielle Yost, Nathaniel Yost, Jordan Yost, Andrew Salvhus, Matthew Salvhus, Mark Salvhus, Austin Salvhus and Aidan Salvhus. Interment was in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, rural Ada.

Memorials preferred to Lutheran Mission Association (for Haiti).