Arna Stedjan

Arna Stedjan, 96, of Fergus Falls, passed away on Friday February 28, 2025. The Funeral Service will be Friday March 7, 2025, 11:00am at Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. A one-hour visitation will be held prior to the service.

Arna (Rosseland) Stedjan was born on June 25, 1928 to Reidar and Tora Rosseland in Bjelland Norway. At an early age, she experienced Christ in her life and grew to serve Him. Her father showed his daughter what it was like to have a personal life with Christ.

Arna lived through the Great Depression and WWII. During this time, she learned to wholly put her trust in Jesus, especially while her dad was in a concentration camp in Germany. While experiencing these hard times and being away from her father, Arna and her siblings came to rely on each other even more. She had love for all her family in Norway but had a special place in her heart for her brother Salva and sister Radiun.

While living in Norway Arna grew up near Sverre, a man she would later call her husband. In the early 1950’s, before they were married, Sverre asked Arna to come to America. Arna moved to Brooklyn and lived with her aunt. Arna was an accomplished seamstress, weaver, and all types of handwork. After a short time they went back to Norway to get married. They moved back to Brooklyn and started their family.

They moved to Huntington, Long Island in 1955, where they had many Norwegian friends. Five of these couples they were friends with had a great love for Jesus and they needed a Jesus loving, Bible believing church like the prayer houses in Norway. So, they started Bethel LB Church in 1959. Arna played organ and piano, taught Sunday school and led Pioneer girls for many years.

Arna shared her great love of Christ through her gift of hosting. Never a day would go by without devotions and prayer. She was a prayer warrior, and earnestly prayed for her children, grandchildren (12) and great grandchildren (32) all personally by name, as well as the church, pastors, and missionaries that she cared so much for.

Sverre and Arna retired in 1986 and moved to Fergus Falls. Arna bought the Nordic Galleri in 1986. This was her first real retail experience. She really enjoyed those years and the people she met. Arna finally retired at 83, and when asked what she was going to do now, she’d reply “I’m going to minister to the old people.”

Arna passed away on February 28, 2025, so looking forward to see her Jesus face to face. She left behind a legacy of people she has touched over the years all for Gods Glory.

Arna is survived by her children Erling Stedjan of Fairlawn (NJ), Gladys (Tom) Moline of Erhard (MN), and Gordon (Yulanda) Stedjan of Huntington (NY). 12 Grandchildren and 32 Great Grandchildren

Arna was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Sandra Stedjan, her brother and sister, husband Sverre Stedjan and daughter-in law Ellen Stedjan.