Connie Joyce Lundstrom, age 73 of Savage, Minnesota,
co-founder of Lowell Lundstrom Ministries and Celebration Church, went home to
heaven on December 13, 2011 after a brief, courageous battle with cancer.
Connie was born in a sod home on June 7, 1938. She grew up in
the hills west of Sisseton, South Dakota and was raised without electricity or
running water. She cherished her early years on the farm and learned to
appreciate hard work; she enjoyed life that was free of both money and
possessions. She moved with her family in the mid 40's to Walnut Grove,
California and then shortly after to the state of Washington seeking a better
way of life. Fortunately for one young boy from Peever, the family moved back to
Sisseton, South Dakota.
When Connie was a sophomore in high school, she met Lowell at
a talent contest. They began to date and were married in 1957. Lowell often
says, "My wife Connie was the queen of my life for over 54 years. We first met
when I was a country rock entertainer. The first time I heard her sing I loved
her alto voice and asked her to join my band. Connie invited me to church, and
as a result of her influence, I committed my life to Jesus Christ." She and
Lowell attended four years of Bible College together at what is now Trinity
Bible College in Ellendale, North Dakota. Both were good students. Connie was
elected valedictorian and Lowell salutatorian of their class.
The couple began their evangelistic music ministry, traveling
in a little Nash Rambler station wagon to churches in the Midwest. Over the
years, their ministry grew. Connie and Lowell—along with their family and team
members—traveled in three buses, and at times a twin engine Cessna 414, over 300
nights of the year throughout the United States and Canada holding city-wide
interdenominational outreaches, seminars and rallies in arenas, convention
centers, gymnasiums, and their 2000-seat big-top tent.
Over the years, their ministry included nationally aired
television specials, weekly television programs, and Christmas television
specials. Their ministry also included two national radio programs—Message
for America heard on 125 stations across North America and Lowell
Live. Her most recent outreach project was the Good News Radio Show, a 15
minute weekly internet podcast which began April of 2011. In the fall of 1996,
Lowell and Connie launched Celebration Church in the Minneapolis suburb of
Burnsville, Minnesota. They continued their soul-winning outreaches and marriage
seminars across the United States and Canada as well as being pastors at
Celebration Church.
Connie and the Lundstrom family produced over 66 record
albums. In 1986 Connie recorded a music album titled simply, "Connie." Along
with her husband and family, she invested 55 years in evangelistic ministry and
reached approximately one million people for Christ. All of her children
traveled with the Lundstrom Ministry team, participating in crusades and rallies
while they were growing up. Connie has written about the many challenges and
blessings of this itinerant lifestyle in her book, "My Home The Highway."
Connie was an author, speaker and avid photographer, but her
greatest joy came from loving others, especially Lowell. Connie made life
beautiful for the people she met and enjoyed gardening, antique shops, and
helping others through her Wishing Well ministry for those in need. Connie is
survived by her husband and best friend of 57 years, Pastor Lowell Lundstrom.
Their marriage was blessed with four children: Pastor Londa Ramsey, Lisa
Lundstrom, Lowell Lundstrom Jr., and Lance Lundstrom. Connie was blessed with
five beloved grandchildren and two step-grandchildren: Chase, Conor, Grace,
Reagan, Lowell “Zeke”, Haley, and Zach. She is also survived by her brother,
Jerry Brown of Deer Lodge, Montana, and also by other loving family and many
dear friends.
Visitation hours are from 4-8pm on Tuesday,
December 20, 2011 at Celebration Church, 16655 Kenyon Ave, Lakeville, Minnesota
55044 with prayer and remembrance at 7pm. Homegoing Service is at 11am
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at Celebration Church. An additional service will
take place on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at the Sisseton Fine Arts Center, 516
8th Avenue West, Sisseton, South Dakota 57262 at 11am. Interment: Peever
Cemetery, Peever, South Dakota. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be forwarded
by the family to some of Connie's favorite
causes.
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