Longtime Ballard pastor passes away

After battling lung cancer for more than a year, Reverend Malcolm Unseth of Ballard First Lutheran Church passed away last Saturday evening.

Rev. Unseth, pictured here during the 2008 Blessing of the Fleet, was instrumental in the development of the Fishermen’s Memorial and chaired the Memorial Committee. Heidi Eriksen emailed us:

Anyone who was a part of ‘Old Ballard’ knew Malcolm Unseth. He was the longtime Pastor at Ballard First Lutheran Church were he blessed the fishing fleet, cooked salmon at the Seafood fest and was an integral part of the Ballard community. “Pastor Unseth” as I knew him, was a part of my family for over forty years. My parents were married by him over 35 years ago, I was baptized by him as an infant and he helped my family say goodbye to several lost loved ones. He was and is, a true part of the Ballard community and will be deeply missed!

According to Rev. Unseth’s obituary, a “Celebration of Life” service will be held Saturday, May 2, at 2 p.m. at Ballard First Lutheran. Memorials may be given to Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial Scholarship Fund, Dearborn Park Elementary School 2nd Grade, or to ELCA Hunger Relief — designate “life-giving water” or “God’s global barnyard.”