Olaf C. Cartford and Verna L. Cartford Endowed Scholarship Fund

The Olaf C. and Verna L. Cartford Endowed Scholarship Fund at Luther Seminary in 2011 through a Revocable Living Trust by Olaf and Verna Cartford. Olaf was born to missionary parents on January 14, 1920, in Dauphin, Madagascar and Verna was born on December 9, 1923, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Olaf left home in 1936, and came to the United States to continue his education. He graduated from St Olaf College in Northfield and Luther Seminary in St Paul, and was ordained a pastor. After joining the US Naval Reserve as a Chaplain, he received his Master’s Degree in Theology at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey and then accepted a call to serve Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston and then a call to the Wadena/Verndale, Minnesota parish. Verna’s family moved to Crookston and then she went on to become a nurse at the University of Minnesota. Olaf and Verna met in Crookston and they were married on May 25, 1951, and together they served the Wadena parish for sixteen years. Olaf was then selected to become assistant to the district president of the Northern Minnesota District ELCA. He served there until 1985. This scholarship provides important support for academically deserving Luther Seminary students based on financial need.