Reverend Doctor Theodor B. "Ted" Rath

Reverend Doctor Theodor (Ted) B. Rath was born near Tuttle, North Dakota on April 12, 1930. He was the son of parents having a German heritage. His father, born north of Odessa in the Ukraine, was brought to the United States as a child. His mother was born near Constanta, Romania and came with her family to the States settling in North Dakota. The oldest of five children, Ted has been married to his wife, Bernice, for 59 years. Also of German background, and immigrants as well, her parents were born in the Ukraine close to the country of Moldova. Bernice is a retired elementary school teacher. They have four children: Corleen, Nolan, Mylen, and Lo Ann. Pastor Rath is a Korean War Veteran, having served his tour of duty at a General Hospital located in the Kanto Plains District northwest of Tokyo, Japan. It was a facility that treated and rehabilitated American soldiers wounded in the Korean conflict. While in Japan, he was asked to teach a Sunday morning Bible Class to Japanese junior and senior high girls, along with four women who served as their mentors. His translator, Junichi Ehara, was very faithful in assisting him for a period of 17 months. After serving his tour of duty, he returned to the United States to continue the college education he had begun during the summer of 1949. Having resisted God’s call to the ministry for nearly 10 years, he was ready to resume his studies and to continue his life’s work as a pastor. In 1957, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in history and religion from Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa. He then attended the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Naperville, Illinois and received a Master of Divinity Degree in 1960. In 1980, he received a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. Ted began his ministry in 1955. In May of 1960, he was ordained by the Dakotas Conference of the Evangelical United Brethren Church. This denomination merged with the Methodist Church in 1968. He then served in three appointments in North Dakota for a period of 35 years. They included McClusky and Mercer; Cavalier (Trinity), Concrete, and Hamilton; Cando, Churchs Ferry, and Starkweather. During the time when parishes were realigned in the Cavalier area, he also served the Presbyterian Church at Crystal. The Hamilton congregation worshipped with Presbyterians during his tenure in that congregation. He retired in the summer of 1995. In June of 1996, he travelled to the Ukraine to visit ancestral villages and to meet Ukrainians, especially those having a German heritage. While there, he met people who asked questions about relatives who had migrated to North and South America. After touring areas in the Ukraine not far from Odessa, he then visited communities in southwest Germany and northeastern France. Shortly after returning to the United States, he served as an interim pastor in a yoked parish of Presbyterians and ELCA Lutherans for seven years. While living in Arizona, the Raths have attended the Chandler United Methodist Church in Chandler, Arizona. On Palm Sunday, 2014, they were the recipients of the inaugural Joyce Hammack Humanitarian award presented to them for expanding the vision of the congregation’s ministry. Ted is survived by his wife, Bernice Huber Rath, Sun Lakes, AZ; his daughter, Corleen Schwan and friend, Jim Bachmeier, Devils Lake, ND; son Nolan and wife Stacy, Chandler, AZ; son Mylen and wife Lori, Chandler, AZ; daughter LoAnn and Nick Catsibris, Scottsdale, AZ; three grandchildren Heather and husband Allen Troy of Center, ND, Megan and husband Josh Collier of Flagstaff, AZ, McIntyre Rath of Tucson, AZ and Kylee Rath and Sean Rath; great grandchildren Abagael and Daxson Troy; his sister, Ruby and husband Art Meyer, Seattle, WA; sister-in-law Mavis Rath, Bismarck, ND; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, his brothers Ray and Leon, and his in-laws Daniel and Katie Huber. Ted lived his life as a great example of his faith, and his soul is at peace with God. Funeral Services are on Friday, July 17, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, Devils Lake with Rev. Lori Broschat officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake and will continue on Friday at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Interment will be in the IOOF Cemetery, Cando, ND on Friday, July 17th at 1:15 p.m. with a time of fellowship to follow at the Cando United Methodist Church.