The Rev. Alvin C. Rueter, 86, of Blair, died Friday, March 21, 2008 at Shepherd’s Village Assisted Living in Blair.

Funeral services were Thursday, March 27, at First Lutheran Church in Blair, with a private interment after cremation.

Alvin Charles Rueter was born Nov. 3, 1921, in Parkers Prairie, Minn., to the Rev. John Alvin and Pauline (Greiner) Rueter.

Upon graduation from Dana College, he attended Capital University Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.

On Aug. 30, 1944, he married Beulah Nielsen in Ringsted, Iowa.

The Rev. Rueter was ordained on Sept. 9, 1945. Rev. and Mrs. Rueter served Lutheran congregations in Monterey Park, and Inglewood, Calif., Tulsa, Okla., Lincoln, and St. Paul Minn.

While in Tulsa during 1955, he began broadcasting a radio program which eventually was called “Sing for Joy”. In 1970, the weekly program became nationally syndicated. He commented on the Scripture reading for the day and played relevant choral music. He produced ‘Sing for Joy” until 2002, when he became senior advisor to the program.

In 1966, he began teaching homiletic (preaching instruction) at Luther Seminary in St. Paul.

He received his Master of Arts degree in speech communications from the University of Minnesota in December of 1972. In 1979, he began conducting preaching workshops at Dana College and other locations. He taught homiletics and speech at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., from 1984 until 2001.

Rev. Rueter received his Ph.D. in speech communications from the University of Minnesota in 1988. He taught at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong during the spring semesters of 1996 and 1997.

In addition to his work as a teacher and a broadcaster, he was also the author of four books. He enjoyed playing the baritone in the Roseville (Minn.) Community Band and was a member of the Central Lutheran Church choir in Minneapolis. He loved gardening, especially raising roses.

He is survived by his children and their spouses. Judy and Charlie Brehm of Blair; John and Pam Rueter of Woodbury, Minn.; Chris Gilmore and Gene Rosenbaum of Pensacola, Fla.; and Ted Rueter of Beloit, Wis., and fiancée Carla Moore of Warren, Ohio; grandchildren and spouses Jeff and Debbie Brehm of San Antonio, Texas; and Jill and Don Harrold of Blair; great-grandchildren, Karissa and Destrey Brehm of San Antonio; and Maverick and Logan Harrold of Blair; sister, Hilda Henneke of Enid, Okla.; sisters-in-law, Florence Rueter of Alexandria, Minn.; and Liz Rueter and fiancé, Terry Holgate, of Waconia, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Beulah; daughter, Pauline; brothers, Ray and Glen; stepsister, Eva Eilken; stepbrother, Lorenz; stepsister-in-law, Ruth Rueter; and brother-in-law, Walt Henneke.

Memorials are suggested to Dana College or to “Sing for Joy” c/o St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN.

#2 Funeral Leaflet

In Loving Memory of Pastor Alvin Reuter

Born November 3, 1921 Parkers Prairie, Minnesota; Entered Into Rest March 21, 2008 Blair, Nebraska

Funeral Services 11:00 A.M. Thursday, March 27, 2008 First Lutheran Church, Blair, Nebraska. Minister: Pastor Mike Knudson. Organist: Clare Cowing. Prelude: “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”. Congregational Hymns: “O Happy Day”, “Children of the Heavenly Father”, “Love Divine”. Recessional Hymn: “O Lord, Now Let Your Servant”. Postlude: “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”

Private Burial of Cremains: Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska

Arrangements by Campbell-Aman Funeral Home

~~~Obituary and funeral leaflet courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public at Blair, Nebraska. ~~~

FindaGrave # 90948062