Chilstrom, ELCA's first bishop, dies at age 88

GREEN VALLEY, Ariz. - The Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom, 88, the first presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, died Jan. 19 at his home in Green Valley.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Corinne (Hansen), also a Lutheran pastor; a daughter, Mary Cress of Mesa; a son, Christopher Holt of Baltimore; and four sisters. He was preceded in death by his son, Andrew; as well as a brother and two sisters.

Chilstrom was born in Litchfield, Minnesota, on Oct. 18, 1931. He was always appreciative of his Swedish heritage and grew up in an Augustana Lutheran Synod congregation. In...