b. 1932 Topics: The Church at Worship Scripture; liturgical Songs of Illumination; Bible; Proper 10 Year A Author of "When Seed Falls on Good Soil" in Voices United Norman P. Olsen (b. February 15, 1932) is a Lutheran pastor. He was born in Union City, New Jersey to Norwegian immigrants and came to Minnesota to attend Concordia College, Moorhead and Luther Seminary, St. Paul. He remained in Minnesota where he served six parishes. While serving at Grace Lutheran Church, Luverne, Minnesota, Norman collaborated with his congregation’s choir director to write some hymns. The best known, "When Seed Falls on Good Soil", was written as a theme hymn to accompany a Lenten series on the parable of the Sower. Though not the original tune, the words were set to the tune Walhof when it first appeared in a hymnal and has remained with that tune in other hymnals.
Andrew Hermodson-Olsen (son) and Norman Olsen
Norman P. Olsen