Anna Arnesen was born December 7, 1949 in Harstad, Norway, a small city above the Arctic Circle. She spent her early childhood on the nearby island of Bjarkøy, her ancestral home, with her parents Arne and Helene, her brother Hemming and her sister, Åse. The “Land of the Midnight Sun” gave her a deep love of nature, of light and darkness. She loved solitude and had an independent nature. The family relocated near Oslo, where she grew to adulthood in Ås, an agricultural and university town. She lost her father when she was only 10.
When she was 19, a cousin, who lived in Portland, invited her to spend a semester at Mt. Hood Community College. It was in Portland that she met Ed, a soldier on leave before going to Vietnam. He survived a one-year tour of duty, during which he wrote about 130 letters to her. The two were married on Dec. 26, 1970, and she pursued a BA in business administration at Portland State University, graduating in 1974. She worked in branch management at US Bank for several years before leaving to raise her three children full time.
It was then that she found her true calling in the study of theology at Mt. Angel Seminary, graduating with an MA in 1998. A doctorate in ministry at San Francisco Theological Seminary followed. Subsequently, she worked in ministry at St. Ignatius, St. Rita and Resurrection parishes. She taught theology at University of Portland, Marylhurst University and Mt. Angel Seminary.
She was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2015 and fought it courageously. The disease took her on Sept. 10, 2021. She remained fiercely loyal to her Norwegian heritage and close to her beloved family in Norway, visiting as often as possible. Her straightforward way of communicating, her honesty, and her kindness endeared her to many, who will miss her deeply.
She is survived by her husband, Edward, children Ingrid, David and Annette, grandchildren Helene and Eddy, brother Hemming, sister Åse and a large and loving family in Norway.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Anna's memory may be made to Mercy Corps.
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