Edwin Vainio

Edwin Leslie Vainio, 77, of Missoula, passed away on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025, at home after a brief illness.

He was born on March 26,1948, in Seattle, WA, to Jorma K & Karin L Vainio. Both sides of his family had legacies in Christian service, to include music, pastoral, and evangelistic ministry. 

On February 6, 1958 he made his decision to follow Jesus after hearing the testimony of violinist Heimo Haitto.

Upon graduation from High School, Ed enrolled at Seattle Bible Training School, graduating in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology.

On August 22, 1969, Ed married Janet Esther Lindgren, and in September of 1970 they began their ministry in North Pole, Alaska, with KJNP, a Christian Radio Station. The mission of the radio station was to broadcast Gospel message to the interior of Alaska during the daytime, and into communist Russia at night. 

In October of 1973 they began a new ministry in Rainier, OR, at Calvary Tabernacle, building a church, changing lives and making lifelong friends. In 1981, the Lord brought them to Calvary Tabernacle on Vashon Island, WA, where they completed building projects and led the congregation for 3 years.

After several years of leading a Sunday School Class at Calvary Temple in Auburn, WA, the opportunity came to move to Missoula, MT, in 1989, and to serve on staff at Christian Life Center. Ed served faithfully as a teacher and shepherd for 19 years.

In 2008, Ed and Janet embarked on a new ministry opportunity; acting as an interim pastor for churches that were between pastors. Around 2018, Ed and Janet accepted an appointment to become Elders for the Montana Ministry Network, effectively becoming a 'pastor to pastors' across Montana. Ed faithfully served in this capacity until the Lord called him home.

Ed loved the outdoors and any activity that would get him outside and sharing the time with friends and family. 

Ed was a Ham radio enthusiast (his handle was K7MWL), having built his first radio before he was 10. Over the years he has used Ham Radio to meet people around the world, as well as providing critical lines of communication for missionaries in remote parts of the world.

Ed was a husband to Janet for 56 years; a brother to Linnea Vainio (deceased 2024) and Shirley Vainio; a father to three boys and father-in-law to their wives, James (Jim) & Cindy, Nathan & Jamie, and David & Erin; a grandfather to thirteen, a great grandfather to two, and a pastor to many from Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and Montana. 

A Celebration of Life & Ministry will be held at Christian Life Center, Missoula, MT, on December 18th, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Rural America Ministries or Convoy of Hope (both are ministries of the Assemblies of God).