Robert Preus

Robert Preus
Preus in his study
Born	(1924-10-16)October 16, 1924
Died	November 4, 1995(1995-11-04) (aged 71)

Robert David Preus (October 16, 1924 – November 4, 1995) was an American Lutheran pastor, professor, author, and seminary president.

Robert Preus was born to Minnesota Governor J.A.O. Preus and Idella Haugen Preus. His older brother is J.A.O. Preus II, former president of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS).

Preus graduated from Luther College with a B.A. degree and thereafter entered Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, where his uncle Herman Preus served as a professor. At this point Luther Seminary belonged to the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. There was a minority group which intended to remain in doctrinal fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America, which had not joined the merger of 1917 of Norwegian churches, and this group formed the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS). Preus found Luther Seminary to be theologically compromising and indifferent and left for the newly formed Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary in Mankato, Minnesota (ELS). He became the seminary's first graduate in 1947.

Preus was ordained in October 1947. He served congregations in Mayville, North Dakota and Bygland, Minnesota. He married Donna Rockman in 1948. They had with 10 children (6 sons and 4 daughters) and more than 50 grandchildren.