The Rev. Simon Ter Dup, 47, of Albert Lea was called to eternal life in Heaven on Dec. 19, 2014.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Austin with the Rev. James N. Ruey and the Rev. Robert Bailey officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at Lakewood Cemetery in Albert Lea. Afterwards, a reception and Sudanese service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Austin.

Simon was born in Yomdoang, also known as Longechuk County, in Southeast Sudan. He had dual citizenship in South Sudan and the United States.

He was born to Duop Kueth and Nyaboth Thol on April 5, 1967. Simon attended primary and secondary school in Ethiopia. He received an associate degree in liberal arts from Des Moines Area Community College in 2003. Simon also attended and graduated from the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Mo., on Oct. 22, 2008, and was ordained as a minister on Oct. 18, 2009.

Simon married Mary Nyayan Puok on Jan. 19, 1989, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church Mekane Yesus Presbyterian. He worked as a pastor for the Sudanese congregations at Zion Lutheran Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Simon was a vital member of the Sudanese community. His goal was to better the Sudanese community and he did this by raising funds to build churches, schools and a community center in Malual and Maiwut, South Sudan.

He is preceded in death by his father, Duop Kueth and his mother, Nyaboth Thol.

He is survived by his wife Mary Puok and his children Nyajuok, Nyajal, Paul, Rebecca, Phillip, Leah, Khan and Jeremiah.

Memorials may be given to the Simon Ter Dup Memorial Fund at Wells Fargo Bank.

The family would like to extend thanks to any and all who assisted with Simon’s care and gave their support.