Elton Hallauer

The Victory Service for Elton Hallauer of Morris will be held Friday, June 4, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Morris, Minnesota with Pastor Johnathan Schnose officiating.  Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be held at Mount Hope Cemetery in Watertown, South Dakota at 3:00 p.m.

There will be a live stream of Elton’s service starting at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 4, 2021.  To view the service on the Pedersen Funeral Home website, scroll to the bottom of Elton’s page and click the link.

Elton Arnold Hallauer was born to Arnold and Ella (Fuerstenau) Hallauer on a farm near Hazel, SD, on Easter Sunday, April 20, 1924, and was baptized in the name of the Triune God on May 25, 1924, by his uncle, the Rev. Arthur Fuerstenau. He was confirmed on July 26, 1938, at Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church, Grover, SD, by the Rev. Walter Sprengeler.

Elton received his elementary education at Brantford No 1, in Hamlin County, SD. He attended high school at Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN, from 1938 to 1942. In the fall of 1943 he entered Concordia Junior College in Milwaukee, WI, from which he graduated in January, 1945. He completed his last two college years at Northwestern College, Watertown, WI, graduating in June, 1947. He received his seminary training at Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Seminary, Thiensville (now Mequon), WI, graduating in June, 1950.

On July 23, 1950, pastor-elect Hallauer was ordained and installed as pastor of Courtland and Zion Ev. Lutheran Churches of Courtland and Brighton Township, rural New Ulm, MN, by Prof. Richard Janke. In March, 1955, he accepted the call to St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church of Hancock, MN where he served until June 5, 1960, when his call was terminated due to doctrinal differences between him and the Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod. It was then that Bethel Ev. Lutheran Church was formed; he was installed as pastor by the Rev. Harold Duehlmeier. Soon thereafter he was requested to serve several families in Parkers Prairie, MN, who had separated from the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for reasons of conscience and formed Peace Ev. Lutheran Church. During this time (1960-1986), in order to provide for his family, he worked at the North Central Soil Conservation Research Lab – ARS in Morris. He retired from the public ministry in September of 2012.

Pastor Hallauer became a founding member of the Church of the Lutheran Confession (CLC) in 1960 and served the church body in various ways over the years. From 1978-1984, he was chairman of the Board of Regents for the synod’s school, Immanuel Lutheran College, located in Eau Claire, WI. Being elected in the fall of 1984, he served as chairman of the Minnesota Pastoral Conference until 2008. For a number of years beginning in 1986, he helped spread the Word as Assistant Editor of the Journal of Theology, the CLC’s professional publication. And from his election in 1990 until 2000, he served as Vice President of the CLC.

On June 17, 1950, Elton was united in marriage at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI, with Doris Just, whom he met in 1945 while attending school in Milwaukee. Our gracious Lord blessed this union of 70 years with seven daughters, sixteen grandchildren, and eighteen great grandchildren.

Pastor Hallauer passed away on May 28, 2021, having reached the age of 97 years, one month and eight days. He was preceded in death by his wife, his daughter, Mary, his parents, and his two brothers, Lyle and Kenneth.

Remaining in this time of grace are his daughters: Barbara Breth, Eagan; Janice (Barry) Davis, Spring Lake Park; Karen (David) Johannes, Eau Claire, WI; Linda Hallauer, So. St. Paul; Sandra (Kevin) Hulke, Eau Claire, WI; and Deborah (Gary) Pansch, Harwood ND; his grandchildren: Andrea (Richard) Payne; Kyle Hulke; Deana (David) Pfeiffer; Laura (Eli) Wales; Daniel Johannes; Michelle (Ricardo) Arredondo; Amanda (Chad) Hestekin; Noelle (Andrew) Aalgaard; Jonathan Davis; Jordan (Elizabeth) Pansch;  Alyssa Johannes; Karie Davis; Michael LaCoursiere; Hannah (Justin) Graff; Charles Davis;  Emily Johannes;  and his 18 great grandchildren, nephews, nieces,  parishioners and friends.

His body will be laid to rest next to his wife, daughter and parents, in Mount Hope Cemetery, Watertown SD. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the CLC Foundation, 501 Grover Rd., Eau Claire, WI, 54701 or donor’s preference.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.  To send condolences to the family please visit www.pedersenfh.com.