Rev. Bernhard M. Seter

Rev. Bernhard M. Seter, age 69 of Grafton, ND passed away on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at the Unity Hospital of Grafton.

Bernhard Marvin Seter was born November 12, 1952 in Bottineau, North Dakota, the son of the late Marvin Calvin Seter and Myra Mae (Hahn) Seter.  He graduated from high school in Leadville, CO., attended Concordia University, St Paul, MN, Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, IN and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO.

Bernhard and Faye (Freeman) were married in Bridgeman, MI on August 10, 1974.  The couple has made Grafton, ND their home since 1978.

Bernhard was called and ordained in 1978 to be a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Drayton, ND and Zion English Lutheran, Grafton, ND.  He was chaplain for the North Dakota LSTC All Faith Chapel beginning in 1987.  In 1995, he added St John Lutheran Church, Crystal, ND to his ministry.

Bernhard was on the LCMS North Dakota District Board from 1997 until 2001, when he was elected to the LCMS Synod Board of Human Care, serving as Chairman.  In 2010, Bernhard was elected Chairman of the LCMS Synod Board of International Missions (BIM).  While on the BIM board, Bernhard was instrumental in the creation of the mission Project 24, a mission that serves approximately 350 children in Kenya.  During that time, he made several trips to Kenya in support of the mission program.

Bernhard was active in many additional organizations, including the LCMS Lutheran Church Extension Fund along with his great friend Bill Sharpe.   Bernhard was the North Dakota Coordinator for the LCMS 1988 Great Commission.   He served as a LCMS District Counselor and Reconciler from 1998 to 2002.  Bernhard served as LCMS North Dakota District Counselor for the Lutheran Women’s Mission League (LWML) from 1998 to 2002.  He was also active in various BioEthics committees.

For many years, Bernhard authored the widely read blog “Northern Crossings, a Lutheran Mercy Blog From North Dakota and Northern Minnesota”.  Music was a large part of his ministry, he loved composing, performing and sharing this love with others.   Additionally, Bernhard authored a LWML Prayer Service.

Bernhard is survived by his wife Faye, Grafton, ND; brother Kim, Denver, CO; sister-in-law Donna, Denver, CO; niece Courtney Seter, Newport, NC; nephew Daniel Seter, Denver, CO; sister and brother-in-law Linda and Ron Stellmach, Maple Plain, MN; many aunts and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother-in-law Polly Freeman, and several beloved aunts and uncles.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Zion English Lutheran Church of Grafton, ND. Visitation will be Monday, April 4, 2022 from 4-7 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at Zion English Lutheran Church, Grafton. Friends may call at the church on Tuesday from 12:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to one of Bernie's favorite missions.

The funeral will be live streamed on the Zion English Lutheran Church – Grafton, Facebook page. A video of the funeral will be posted to the Tollefson Funeral Home Website following the service. An online guest book is available at: www.tollefsonfuneralhome.com