The Rev. Mel Langeland passed into glory on April 13, 2022, holding the hand of his beloved wife Shirley, with whom he had shared a life of mission, service, generosity, and faith.
Melvin Carl Langeland was born on February 18, 1931 in Lake Andes, South Dakota, and graduated from Midland College in Fremont, Nebraska with a BA in English Literature in 1952. He earned his M.Div from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley in 1955 – part of the first enrolled class of students - and studied languages and anthropology at the Kennedy School of Missions at Hartford Seminary, Connecticut along with his wife, Shirley Joan Stuhr. He was ordained in the United Lutheran Church in America at St. James Lutheran, Portland, Oregon on May 29, 1955.
In 1956, Pastor Langeland, Shirley, and their son Mark moved to Liberia in West Africa to serve the Liberian Lutheran Mission. After six years, during which another son and a daughter were born, the Langelands returned to the United States and Pastor Melvin was called to First English in Sacramento, where he served for 13 years. In 1976 he was called to Trinity, Pomona, serving a community of Hispanic, Laotians, Vietnamese, and Cambodian residents for 19 years and working with the Greater Pomona Housing Development Corporation. After his retirement in 1995, Pastor Melvin and Shirley remained active at their home congregation of Faith, San Dimas, where they continued their support of the Liberian Lutheran Church and PLTS.
Melvin Langeland is survived by his wife Shirley; children Mark, David, and Mary; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 15 at 3:00 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 505 East Bonita in San Dimas, with a reception following. All are invited.
