Ulrik William Koren Naeseth was born July 7, 1888 in Decorah, Iowa to Christian Andreas (C.A.) Naeseth and his wife Caroline Mathilde Koren Naeseth. His father was a member of the Luther College faculty and his mother was a daughter of Rev. U.V. and Elisabeth Koren. He attended Luther College 1902-1908 (A.B.), Luther Seminary, 1909-1912 (C.T.), and Columbia University, 1914-1915 (M.A.).
Naeseth taught at Luther College from 1908-1908, then served as pastor in Rochester, Minnesota (1912-1913, Zumbro Lutheran Church, 1915-1922) and Orfordville, Wisconsin (1912-1913). Beginning in May 1922, Rev. Naeseth took a new role serving as a full-time hospital chaplain for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rochester, Minnesota.
Rev. Naeseth was active in community service, volunteering with the Red Cross for 35 years, including two terms of service on the Red Cross board and chairing the Red Cross Disaster Committee. He also was involved in his local Community Chest organization.
Rev. Naeseth married Charlotte B. Ledell on August 9, 1916 in Beloit, Wisconsin. Their daughter Mary Elizabeth (known as Betty) was born February 9, 1918 in Rochester, Minnesota. Charlotte passed away from a long illness on November 12, 1924.
Rev. Naeseth passed away on August 31, 1958.