Wilbur O. Fisher

Pastor Wil Fisher, 92, of Moorhead passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND.

Wilbur Owen Fisher was born on January 19, 1932, in Forest City, IA to Donald and Opal (Rusley) Fisher. He graduated from Rochester High School in 1951, served in the US Navy from 1952-56, graduated from Luther College in 1959 and Luther Seminary with Ordination in 1964. 

On August 16, 1959, he married Jean E. Torkelson from Melrose, WI. They were married for 48 years before Jean passed away in 2007. Three daughters were born to Jean and Wil: Kari, Kirsten, and Stephanie. Six grandchildren were blessed into the family. In 2011 he married Mavis Lysaker. Mavis brought four adult children, many grandchildren and great grandchildren which extended the family.

Pastor Wil was called to share the good news of Jesus Christ, pastoring congregations at Warwick, Tolna and Hamar, ND; Larimore, ND for 23 years, Gol and Walcott, ND, and Trinity Lutheran in Moorhead, MN. He learned to fly in 1971 and gave hundreds of rides to children and adults, earning honors for involvement in over 800 missions through the EAA Young Eagles program. At 84, Wil decided to volunteer with the American Legion Honor Guard. He also enjoyed traveling, going to family events and driving his 1929 Model A Ford Sport Coup around town. He was a genuine blessing to all he met and always encouraged people with a smile to “Have a Blessed Day!” 

Pastor Wil is survived by his wife, Mavis Lysaker; children Kari (Ove) Sundberg, Kirsten Fisher, and Stephanie (Jay Anderson) Heiberg; grandchildren, Marit (Sean) Woulfe, Erik (Eva) Sundberg, Anders Sundberg, and Karl, Victoria and Christian Heiberg; great grandsons Henryk and Carver Woulfe; nieces, nephews and cousins; Mavis’s four adult children Randi, Susan, Karl, Maria and their families. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Jean; brother, Delmar; sisters, Karen, and Donna; sister-in-law, Beverly Fisher; and brother-in-law, Robert White. 

A visitation will be held on Friday, December 20, from 5-7 with a prayer service beginning at 6:30 at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.

A funeral service of celebration will be held on Saturday, December 21 at 11am at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN

Final resting place will be in North Beaver Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Ettrick, WI with a graveside service at 3pm December 22.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Red Willow Bible Camp Binford, ND or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

At the time of the service, a livestream can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@trinitymhd/streams