Memorial services for John M. Henriksen of Alden will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Greg Ofsdahl and the Rev. Phil Lewison will officiate. Friends may greet the family two hours prior to the service on Monday at the church.

Pastor John died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012m at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea. He was 68 years of age.

John Milton was born Aug. 31, 1944, in Tyler. He was the son of Henrik and Esther (Sorensen) Henriksen. John graduated from Ivanhoe High School in 1962 and was a graduate of both North Dakota State University and Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary. He was united in marriage to Deloris (Lori) Enga on June 26, 1965. They were blessed with two sons and a daughter.

John grew up near Arco, and spent time in California and New Jersey before returning home to Minnesota where he resided in Farmington, Wabasha, Albert Lea and then Alden. He briefly taught mathematics in Plainview before starting a program management career with air traffic control systems at Sperry Univac. Years later, he pursued his master’s of divinity degree and found his calling — the ministry. He was ordained in 1984 and was installed as Faith Lutheran Church’s pastor in Wabasha. From 1999 to 2007, he served as the senior pastor at Grace Lutheran in Albert Lea. He ended his ministerial career amidst a long fight against chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In his retirement, John became an active member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Alden.

John loved spending time with his family, especially his five, beautiful grandchildren. He had an attachment to wide, open prairie land — a fondness that prompted his move to Hansen Point near Alden. He also was proud of his Danish heritage and held a lifelong passion for music. He greatly enjoyed singing.

John is survived by his wife Lori of Alden, children Dana and his wife Suzy and their children Meghan and Mykenzie of Mankato, Kent and his wife Amy Jo and their daughter Harper of Falcon Heights, Erika and her husband Geoff Stenrick and their children Clara and Thea of St. Paul. Brothers and sisters include Marie Henriksen of Arco, Elin (Leigh) Krueger of Minnetonka, Thomas Henriksen of New Prague, Neils (Bonnie) Henriksen of Grand Rapids, Ardis Henriksen of Arco, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister Oda (Bob) Dwire.