Pastor Craig Virgil Groseclose, 65, of Clarkston, passed away Friday, July 4, 2025, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.
Craig was born April 22, 1960, in Lewiston, to Virgil A. and Ada Lou (Sampson) Groseclose. Craig spent his childhood exploring the canyon of his family homeplace near Spalding. Craig graduated from Lapwai High School and went on to earn a degree from Pacific Lutheran University. After college, he returned to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley to work and help on the family ranch. Upon returning home, he renewed his lifelong commitment to Trinity Lutheran Church. Several years later, upon Loralee Ohrtman’s return from graduate school, she and Craig became friends. After more than a year of “not dating,” Craig finally put the horse before the cart and proposed. They were married in 2001.
After wrestling with the call to ministry, he headed to Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., where he earned his Master of Divinity in 2004.
Loralee left her job at Luther College and Craig followed her to Oklahoma where she taught at Oklahoma State University. While on that journey, they found their beloved sheltie, Sima, who was Craig’s work partner and companion for nearly 17 years. “Pastor G” served Shared Ministry of North Central Oklahoma in Enid, Marshall and Perry for nine years.
In 2013, Pastor Craig began serving Cameron Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Kendrick. He worked alongside congregational members for 11 years before retiring.