Rev. Sharon (Ferguson) Gunderson

Sharon Gunderson, 78, a long-time resident of the Corona, California area, passed away on July 9^th at home.

She was born in 1939 in Hillsboro, North Dakota, to C. Lynn and Clara Bagstad Ferguson.  She graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1957, and later received a Bachelor of Music degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.  She continued her education with doctoral work in music performance at UCLA on both the harpsichord and piano.  For many years, she played the harpsichord with the Los Angeles Camerata.  Sharon later returned to school and graduated from PLTS with a Masters of Divinity in 1991.

In 1961, Sharon married Allan Gunderson, also from Hillsboro.  They remained married until 1981 and had two children, Michael and Paul.

Sharon was a teacher in many ways throughout her life: music education in Pelican Rapids; piano lessons to private students; a permanent substitute position as music teacher in the Corona schools.  She used her boundless energy and creativity to plan lessons.

After receiving her MDiv degree, Sharon began her career as pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Norco, California.  She served there for twenty-five years.  She loved music, good movies and books, time with family, crafting sermons and traveling with her granddaughter and back to visit family in North Dakota.

Well done, good and faithful servant.