*Isaiah Harriday, age 82, of Minneapolis, passed away Dec. 19, 2014 at the VA Medical Center. Isaiah was born March 18, 1932 to Littleton Morgan Harriday and Hattie Victoria Hall Harriday in Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. His father was an African Methodist Episcopal minister in addition to serving as butler to the governor of Maryland. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Rockville, Md. in 1950. He served as an aircraft mechanic in the US Air Force from 1950 to 1959, spending five of those years in Germany, where he learned to speak German as he felt it important to speak the language of the people in whose country he lived. He served in the Air Force Reserve for two additional years.

In the Air Force, Isaiah struck up a longstanding friendship with Stuart Barstad, a Lutheran military chaplain. After Isaiah felt the call to ministry, Stuart brought him to see St. Olaf College and Luther Theological Seminary in Minnesota. In 1959, Isaiah enrolled at St. Olaf at age 27. The college contacted five people to see who was willing to accept an African-American roommate. The fifth call was to Jory Watland, who became his roommate and lifelong friend. Isaiah was welcomed into the extended Watland family, celebrating holidays with them for decades. Dan Wee, a sophomore roommate, also became a lifelong friend.

In his college summers, he worked as a canoe guide and counselor for youth exploring the Boundary Waters, even though he could not swim. There he met Peter Rogness who, along with his family, became special friends. Isaiah graduated from St. Olaf College in 1963, the second African American to do so. He moved to the north side of Minneapolis and began studies at Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. in 1964. Isaiah worked as an orderly at Fairview Hospital, where he met Theamarie “Timmie” Loberg, a student at Augsburg College. They married on Aug. 31, 1968 at Bethel Lutheran church in Minneapolis. He interned at Queen Parish in Battle Lake, Randall, and Trefoldighed, Minn. for two years, driving every weekend into northwestern Minnesota. In 1971 he became the first ordained African American to graduate from Luther.

After graduating from Luther, he became pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in inner city Los Angeles, where church organist Mildred Gallagher became “grandmother” for his growing family. Isaiah loved to camp with his family, first in a tent, then a converted van, over time visiting 48 of the contiguous United States and most of Canada. After leaving Ascension, he moved into special ministries, including work with the County of Los Angeles and as a principal of Westchester Lutheran Church and School.

Isaiah was the proud father of Sonja Marlies Baute Harriday, born 1972; Signe Victoria Harriday, born 1976; Solveig Mathea Harriday, born 1984; and Sylvie Renate Harriday, born 1991.

He loved biking, canoeing, hiking, and the peace and quiet of the outdoors. Isaiah was a fabulous cook and did all the cooking for his family. He loved music and played saxophone professionally as a young adult. When meeting strangers, immediate friendships were often made. Isaiah was steadfast in his faith, compassionate, and always concerned for others; the kind of person who would give away the shirt off his back. Making contributions of his time, finances, and heart, he helped countless people in need.

Isaiah will be greatly missed by many.

He is survived by his wife, Theamarie; daughters, Sonja Baute-Harriday ’93 and husband Brad, Signe Harriday ’97, Solveig Harriday ’06, and Sylvie Harriday; grandchildren, Sierra, Tyrone, and Sydney; great-grandsons, Andrae and TyWri; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to ELCA World Hunger or NAMI Minnesota.

The Harridays extend immense gratitude to all friends and family for their ongoing and unwavering love and support. They would also like to thank the many volunteers for their generosity.