The Memorial Service for Delbert Moen

 Del Moen

August 18, 1925-October 18, 2024

October 26, 2024

+ As I said at the begging of our service, I am so very honored to officiate at this service for Del.

 Del was essentially my great-uncle.

 His wife Mercille was married to my mother’s uncle.

 But this complicated family connections never mattered for any of us.

 We were always family.

 And I always saw Del as my great-uncle.

 I truly admired him.

 He was such a good and gracious person.

 I think fondly about the deep love he had for Mercille, and the care he gave her through her last years.

 I think often of his quiet, gentle ways.

 In the memories that were shared about Del on the Hanson-Runsvold website, Del was referred to as a “quiet hero.”

 I love that.

 I think that captures perfectly who Del was.

 I certainly always looked forward to seeing him and talking with him.

 And every time I saw him, he was always so happy to see me.

 And as sad as I am today to say goodbye this really wonderful person, I am also very grateful.

 I am grateful for Del and for all he was.

I am grateful for the strong faith in God he had.

 I am grateful for his presence in my life.

 I am grateful for his presence in the life of Mercille and Jackie and his whole family.

 I am grateful for what he meant to you, those of who came today to remember Del.

 And even though we are sad today, we also able to rejoice.

 We rejoice in Del.

 We rejoice in all that was good and kind and gentle in Del.

 And as we gather today, as we remember Del, as think of who he was to each of us, please think about who he was and what makes you grateful for having knowing him.

 And as you do so, remember this.  

 Today is not the end of anything.

 Yes, we are saying goodbye.

 But it is only a temporary goodbye.

 It is a goodbye until we see him again.

 For now, we are not going to stop remembering him, or thinking of him.

 His presence will certainly stay with us as long after we have left here and go back to our own lives.

 Now, I have no doubt that Del is with us here this afternoon, celebrating his life with us. 

 I am of the firm belief that what separates us who are alive and breathing here on earth from those who are now in the so-called “nearer presence of God” is actually a very thin division.

 So, yes, right now, I think we can feel that that separation between us here and those who have passed on is, in this moment, a very thin one.

 And because of that belief, I take a certain comfort in the fact Del is close to us this afternoon. 

 He is here, in our midst, celebrating his life with us.

 And we should truly celebrate his life.

 It was a good life.

 It was long, full life.

 And in that life, he did a lot of good.

 He made a difference.

 And I can tell you that I will never forget that strong and gentle presence.

 That presence is here with us today as we remember him and give thanks for him.

 And, for those of us who have faith, we know that where Del is now there is only life there.

 Eternal life.

 Where Del is now, he is complete and whole.

 He is with Mercille.

 And he is happy.

 And he will never again shed another tear.

 Because we know that Del and all our loved ones have been received into God’s arms of mercy, into the “blessed rest of everlasting peace.”

 This is what we cling to on a day like today.

 This is where we find our strength.

 This what gets us through this temporary—and I do stress that it is temporary—this temporary separation from Del.

 We know that—despite the sadness we may feel—somehow, in the end, God is with us and Del is with God and that makes all the difference.

 Certainly, Del believed in that and hoped in that.

 Del’s deep faith sustained him again and again through his life.

 And the great example of his faith helps us now as we move forward.

 For Del, sorrow and pain are no more.

 Del, in this holy moment, has gained life eternal.

 And that is what awaits us as well.

 We might not be able to say “Alleluia” with any real enthusiasm today.

 But we can find a glimmer of light in the darkness of this day.

 It is a glorious Light we find here.

 And for that we can rejoice and be grateful.

And we can celebrate.  

We will miss you, Del.

We will always be grateful for you.

May angels welcome you, Del.

May all the saints come forward to greet you.

And may your rest today and always be one of unending joy.