Lorna Dee McPherson; Angelus Temple Officer

Lorna Dee McPherson, a former minister and officer of Angelus Temple, which was founded in 1921 by her famous mother-in-law, evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, has died. She was 82.

Mrs. McPherson died Friday at her home in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles of emphysema and asthma, William Chavez, a ministerial colleague and friend for 50 years, told The Times.

Sister Lorna Dee, as she was known to her followers, had served as vice president of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, which includes more than 600 congregations and the LIFE Bible College at Angelus Temple, where she was educated.

Her election occurred in 1944 when her husband, Rolf K. McPherson, succeeded his mother as president and chief minister at the huge temple at 1100 Glendale Blvd.

Aimee Semple McPherson, who had performed the wedding ceremony uniting her son and Lorna Dee, was found dead in Oakland on Sept. 27, 1944. A coroner’s jury attributed her death to shock and respiratory failure because of an overdose of sleeping pills.

Sister Lorna Dee, wearing the long white dress and blue cape that became symbolic of the Foursquare Gospel churches, assisted her husband in his ministerial duties at Angelus Temple and often led thousands of followers in singing hymns. She also accompanied her husband on missionary trips to Europe, South America and Central America.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. McPherson is survived by a daughter, Kay.