Raymond P. Wiegert

LEWISTOWN - Raymond Paul Wiegert, 91, passed away of natural causes on October 5, 2026, in Lewistown, Montana.

Raymond was born on August 19, 1935, in Danvers, Illinois, to the Rev. Arthur F.H. Wiegert and Louise (Boesel) Wiegert. The third of nine children, he grew up in a Lutheran parsonage and anticipated following his father into the pastoral ministry. He attended Concordia Academy and Concordia College in St. Paul, Minnesota, before graduating from Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois.

On August 27, 1958, Raymond was united in marriage to his beloved wife, Dolores Betty (Heuer), at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eagan, Minnesota. They shared more than 66 years of marriage until Dolores’ death in March 2025.

Raymond was ordained and installed as pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Osceola, Iowa, on July 5, 1959. During their years in Osceola, sons Neal and Mark were born.

In 1964, Raymond accepted a call to St. John Lutheran Church in Roselle, Illinois, where he served for more than eleven years and where their daughter, Renee, was born.

In August 1975, Raymond and his family moved to Missoula, Montana, where he served Messiah Lutheran Church until his retirement in January 2002. Alongside his congregational ministry, he served as chairman of the Montana District LCMS Missions Committee from 1978 to 1988 and as circuit counselor for the Western Circuit from 1991 to 1997. In 2005, he was appointed to the district’s Board of Directors. He was honored and humbled to receive the district’s Amicus Christi (“Friend of Christ”) award.

Raymond began serving Trinity Lutheran Church in Superior, Montana, in 2000, while still serving Messiah. After retiring from Messiah, he accepted Trinity’s call and was formally installed in October 2002. He continued serving Trinity until retiring from active ministry in 2014.

Raymond’s Christian faith was at the center of his life. Throughout more than five decades of pastoral ministry, he proclaimed the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. He was remembered for his warm smile, calm voice, and clear proclamation of salvation by grace through Christ. The faith in Christ that he proclaimed to others was also the faith in which he faced his own death. As the end of his earthly life approached, he was confident that God had prepared him for it and that, because of Christ, death would give way to eternal life. Reflecting on his years of ministry, he said, “God has been good! All glory is His alone!”

Raymond treasured his family and especially enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In his younger years, he enjoyed working on his cars. Later, he spent many hours at his computer creating music CDs. In retirement, he and Dolores particularly looked forward to their annual Labor Day trips to Minnesota, where they enjoyed spending time with relatives. Raymond was also active in his community and was a longtime member of Rotary.

Raymond was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dolores; his daughter, Renee; his parents, Arthur and Louise Wiegert; and his siblings Melvin, Irma, Winfred, Elaine, Reuben, and Mildred.

He is survived by his sons, Neal (Joan) and Mark (Kim); grandchildren Christopher (Meredith), Nicholle (Parker), Jordan (Bailey), Heather, Jenna, and Tanner; great-grandchildren Paxton, Milo, Evelyn, and Halley; his brother, Paul; his sister, Ruth (Don); his sister-in-law, Karen Wiegert; and numerous extended family members, colleagues, parishioners, and dear friends.