The Right Reverend Donald Maynard Hultstrand passed away peacefully into the eternal presence of his Lord Jesus Christ on December 21, 2018, in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 91 years. Having been called to the ministry during his college years, Donald was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1953, and became the Ninth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, in 1982. During his retirement years, he served as Bishop-in-Residence at Christ Church Episcopal in Greenville. His ministry was characterized by a keen intellect focused on encouraging believers to follow their Lord Jesus by walking in the Spirit, trusting in the power of prayer, and seeking to strengthen His Church. Known for his dynamic preaching and practical teaching, he continued to lead seminars and spiritual retreats around the nation until the last few years of his life.
Born on April 16, 1927, in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, to Aaron Hultstrand and his wife Selma (nee Liljegren), Donald graduated from Macalester College in 1950 and Bexley Hall Seminary in 1953. He received Honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from Bexley in 1972 and from Nashotah House in 1986.
Hultstrand served several churches in Minnesota, initially as a Vicar at St. John's in Worthington and Trinity in Luverne before becoming the Diocesan Youth Advisor (1955–57), then Rector in Wabasha (1957–61) and an Instructor at the Breck School in Minneapolis (1961–62) and later as the Rector of St. Paul’s in Duluth (1969–75). During his years in Ohio, he served as Rector of St. Mark's in Canton (1962-68) and was an honorary Canon at Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland (1966–69). He then accepted a call as an Associate Rector at St. Andrew’s in Kansas City, Missouri (1968-69). Immediately before his episcopate, Hultstrand was Rector in Greeley, Colorado (1979-1982). He was the Executive Director of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer from 1975 thru 1979 and had more recently been serving as Advisor to the United States Council of the AFP. Beginning in 1992, Bishop Hultstrand served as President of the Living Church Foundation.
Donald received the Distinguished Service Award from Young Life Minnesota (1974) and served on the Board of Directors for Senior Citizens Housing in Duluth (1972-1975) and for St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth (1969-1975). He was the President of the Low-Rent Housing Project in Greeley (1979-1982).
His published works emphasized a life committed to our Lord Jesus and devoted to prayer, including the following books, articles and audio recordings: And God Shall Wipe Away All Tears, Revelations of Effective Prayer, Life in the Spirit, Holy Living Today and The Praying Church.
Bishop Hultstrand is survived by his wife of thirteen years, Lenora Ann (nee Haselwood), and her children, Walker Elliott Rowe and Andrew Rowe, along with his children from his first marriage, Kathy Roux (Russell) and Charles Hultstrand (Katherine). He is also survived by his sister, Arlene Hultstrand Korstad of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; thirteen grandchildren: Scott Hultstrand (Mary Beth), Kristi Reed (Mark), Brooke Woody (Clay), Stephen Roux, Rebecca Roux, Karen Fitzpatrick (Taylor), Andrew Hultstrand (fiancée Cara Turner), Caroline Maser (Connor), Clay Hultstrand (Lauren), Walker Rowe IV, Nathaniel Rowe, Annie Rowe and Alex Rowe (fiancé Peter Loy); and twenty-two great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his brother, Kerwyn Hultstrand; and his first wife of fifty-five years, Marjorie Ann (nee Richter).
Online condolences may be left at www.mackeymortuary.com. Services will be celebrated in loving memory of The Rt. Rev. Donald M. Hultstrand 11 AM Monday, January 7, 2019, at Christ Church Episcopal in Greenville with The Right Reverend W. Andrew Waldo, Eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina, presiding. Memorial donations may be given to Christ Church Episcopal, 10 North Church St., Greenville, SC 29601, www.ccgsc.org; or Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 602 12th Ave. E, Alexandria, MN 56308, www.alexmnepiscopal.org. Arrangements by Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Century Drive.
” …I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies…” John 11:25
