MERCER ISLAND, WA (January 31, 2015) – A memorial service for retired Covenant minister Eric Josephson, 87, was conducted December 30, 2014, at Covenant Shores Retirement Community. A Graveside service also was held that day.
He died December 25, 2014.
Eric was born October 21, 1927, in Alpine, Manitoba, to Swedish immigrants Sven and Kristina Josephson. He attended Covenant Bible College. He married Esther Nordstrom in Brockington, Saskatchewan, in 1950.
During his 50 years of ministry Eric served Canadian Covenant churches in Fairy Glen, Kinistino, Brockington, and Melfort, Saskatchewan; Albine and Durban, Manitoba, Warburg, Breton, Drayton Valley, and Malmo, Alberta; Teien, Kennedy, and New London, Minnesota; as well as Pine Lake, Issaquah, and Wiley Heights, Yakima, Washington.
Eric was known for his ability to identify and mentor leaders. One of them was Covenant pastor Andrew Thompson, who preached at the memorial service and said, “Eric gave me a chance.” Andrew sang his own song “Louder Than Words” as a testament to the way Eric daily shared his life.
He is survived by his wife, Esther, three daughters children, Lynn (Keith) Tungseth, Lois (Steve) Balogh, Barbara (Luke) Pederson; and one son, Dean (Sheila) Josephson; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He was a great guy. Back when many Covenant churches still wondered if it was OK for women to be pastors, he welcomed me to warmly to preach to his congregation.