Marilyn Jean Salmon, 76, of St. Paul, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2025. She was raised in Tracy, Minnesota, a place she treasured, by Guy and Marlys Salmon. Marilyn embodied a lifelong pursuit of understanding between faiths that would shape both her distinguished career and personal spiritual journey.
Marilyn graduated from Tracy High School and later pursued her higher education at Concordia Moorhead and Luther Seminary. She went on to earn a doctorate in New Testament from Hebrew Union College. Marilyn’s professional work and life were dedicated to bridging divides and building understanding, particularly in the area of Jewish-Christian relations. As a Professor Emerita of New Testament Theology at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (1989-2014), she made a lasting impact on her students, colleagues, and the broader academic community.
As a Reverend for numerous congregations, Marilyn’s faith shaped her work, and she was a dedicated and compassionate servant to her churches and community. She served for many years as a Reverend at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, where she touched the lives of many. Marilyn was also a published author, most notably the book Preaching Without Contempt: Overcoming Unintended Anti-Judaism.
In her later years, Marilyn made a profound personal decision to convert to Judaism, marking a new chapter in her spiritual life. Her commitment to Jewish-Christian dialogue deepened as she embraced her Jewish faith. In 2019, she was nominated to serve on the board of directors of Mount Zion Temple in St. Paul, Minnesota, allowing her to play a more active role in the Jewish community.
At the heart of Marilyn’s life was her beloved family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Guy and Marlys Salmon, and her brothers, Roger Salmon, and Gary Salmon. She is survived by her sons, Jesse Wiskochil and Isaac Wiskochil, her brother Dean Salmon, and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and countless friends who will cherish her memory.
Beyond her academic and religious work, Marilyn enjoyed playing piano and had a deep appreciation for classical music. She also took pleasure in baking and preserving foods, which she often shared with family and friends. Throughout her life, Marilyn treasured time spent on Lake Shetek, where you could often find her kayaking with one of her beloved dogs.
Marilyn’s legacy of compassion, intellectual depth, and dedication to both her academic and spiritual communities will continue to inspire those who knew her. May her memory be a blessing.
A memorial service for Marilyn will be held at Mount Zion Temple, 1300 Summit Ave., St. Paul on Thursday, February 13th at 12:30 p.m. A celebration of life will follow at Shamrock’s on West 7th in St. Paul. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Mount Zion Temple and the Jewish Community Center of St. Paul.