LEAVING A LASTING LEGACY

Les ‘64 and Carolyn Svendsen ‘66 Say ‘Thank you’ to Augustana Through Planned Gift

| BY KEELEY MEIER

‘20

When A.J. Bergsaker Hall was built in 1963, it was Augustana’s first coed residence hall. To commemorate the occasion, Les Svendsen ‘64 — a junior at the time — was asked to pose for a photo outside the building for the Augustana Alumni Association’s publication, The Augustana College Alumnus.

“The campus photographer, Bill Seward, asked me, ‘Can you find a girl to be in the picture with you?’” explained Svendsen.

Les recruited Carolyn (Hybertson) Svendsen ‘66 — a freshman he had met through a mutual friend and with whom he occasionally shared sticky rolls and coffee.

“Well, she drank Coke, not coffee,” Svendsen clarified.

One year later, the couple — whose first photo together ended up on the cover of the alumni magazine — was married.

‘A FAMILY SCHOOL’

Carolyn, who grew up on a farm north of Centerville, South Dakota, found her way to Augustana through her family.

“It was sort of our family school,” Carolyn said. “My mother had attended, my brother (Ronald Hybertson ‘61) graduated from Augie and I had a few cousins who were students the same time I was.”

Another Augustana connection was Carolyn’s second cousin, the late Harriet Hybertson, professor of education and Augustana Academy distinguished alumnus.

For Les, a Tyler, Minnesota, native, the decision to attend Augustana was guided by his pastor, Norm Eitrheim ‘51, who later guided his career path, too.

“My plan was to go to South Dakota State (University) because it had a school of printing and journalism, and that was a very strong interest of mine,” Les said. “But, Norm was an Augie grad and a big influence in my decision.”

While at Augustana, Carolyn pursued her interests in biology and nursing. Les majored in English and was editor of The Augustana Mirror.

“Serving as editor was one of the most educational, challenging and satisfying experiences that I had (at Augustana). It really warmed the ink in my blood,” Les said.

Sticking Around

Even though Les was passionate about journalism, during his junior year, he began to consider a life of ministry. He credits Eitrheim, the late Drs. James Limburg, professor of religion, and Arthur Olsen, professor emeritus of philosophy and religion, as well as the late Campus Pastor Pete (A. Richard) Petersen with guiding him to seminary.

In 1964, after Les graduated, he and Carolyn moved to Minnesota so he could attend seminary. In the Twin Cities, Carolyn, who had completed a licensed practical nursing (LPN) program, began work at Fairview Hospital until a toboggan accident led her to take a break from work.

After seminary, Les’ first call was to St. Philip’s Lutheran Church in Fridley, Minnesota, where Eitrheim was the senior pastor. Les spent a total of 19 years at St. Philip’s — beginning as an intern and ending as senior pastor.

Les was then called to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield, Minnesota, where he discovered another Augustana connection — he would be one of Rev. Dr. Lawrence Stavig’s successors, who served the congregation from 1928-43. Stavig was Augustana’s 15th president (1943-65).

“I felt a little Augustana connection even though I was in St. Olaf (College) land,” Les joked.

As she followed Les to the parishes in which he was placed, Carolyn was recruited to work in a dental office and for a trust company. During the Svendsens’ time in Northfield, Carolyn was the director of a nonprofit that matched up college students and children in the community.

In 2002, Les was called to his final parish, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (OSL) in Sioux Falls — just across the street from his alma mater. During his tenure, he led the church through a major addition and remodel. In 2012, Les retired.

In between jobs and parishes, the couple welcomed two children who didn’t have to move around much, even as the children of a pastor.

“Our children only had to attend two different schools,” Carolyn said. “That’s not true with most pastor’s kids, but Les wound up staying at each parish for quite a while.”

“When I came to Our Savior’s, I said, ‘I stick around for a long time, so you gotta get used to me,’” added Les.