James Adland Mason

Mason, James Adland 89, of Starbuck, MN, died November 11, 2017. Jim was born June 20, 1928 in Northfield, MN, to Homer and Malinda Mason. After graduating from St. Olaf College, Jim went to Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He met his wife Sarah Margaret Refo when both were working at Camp Reinberg outside Chicago. They married in 1952. Jim worked in Chicago from 1954 to 1977 at Benton House and for the Chicago Lutheran Research and Survey and the Community Renewal Society. In 1963 Jim and his family moved to Woodstock, IL where he was director of Pleasant Valley Farm, a camp serving inner-city Chicago that was both an outdoor retreat from the city and a center of efforts for racial equality and social change. In 1977 Jim became the director of Wilder Forest, operated by the Amherst Wilder Foundation in St. Paul. Under Jim's leadership the camp served diverse groups of all ages with programs ranging from Hmong community gardens and Native American ceremonies to more conventional wilderness education. Jim and Sarah retired to Starbuck in 1995. Jim was preceded in death by his wife Sarah and his brother Homer Eugene Mason. He is survived by his children Rachel, Joe (Monica), Roald (Libby), and Sarah Brewer (Brian Pruitt); 12 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; his sisters-in-law Joan Mason, Burney Medard, and Alice Ann Xiques; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives; and a host of friends. A memorial service will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Starbuck, MN at 10 AM on Saturday, December 16. A larger memorial gathering will take place 2-5 PM the same day at the Starbuck Community Center.

Published on December 8, 2017