Fall 2022 Bethel Magazine

numerous churches throughout 0LFKLJDQ PLQLVWHULQJ WR PDQ\ individuals over the years. Their PDUULDJH ODVWHG \HDUV XQWLO his death. Retha graduated from Bethel &ROOHJH LQ ZLWK D %DFKHORUŠV 'HJUHH LQ (OHPHQWDU\ (GXFDWLRQ +HU WKLUW\ \HDU WHDFKLQJ FDUHHU OHG KHU WR WHDFK ƃUVW WKURXJK sixth grade in Cassopolis, 'RZDJLDF DQG 3LQH 5LYHU $UHD 6FKRRO GLVWULFWV LQ 0LFKLJDQ +HU passion for children, reading, creativity, and education allowed her to excel in her career choice. Retha was survived by many family members, including two generations of Bethel alumni. Virginia Faith Erickson ’59 SDVVHG DZD\ 0D\ 9LUJLQLD ZDV ERUQ LQ 7RSHND .DQ DQG ODWHU PRYHG WR 0LVKDZDND Ind., where she grew up and JUDGXDWHG IURP 0LVKDZDND +LJK 6FKRRO LQ She attended Bethel College DQG JUDGXDWHG LQ ZLWK her teaching degree. She also UHFHLYHG KHU 0DVWHUŠV GHJUHH from Indiana University. In her later years, for the fun of it, she UHFHLYHG DQ $VVRFLDWHŠV GHJUHH LQ writing from Bethel College. ,Q VKH PDUULHG 'RQDOG (ULFNVRQ DQG VSHQW ZRQGHUIXO years together raising their four FKLOGUHQ 'RQ SUHFHGHG KHU LQ GHDWK LQ 9LUJLQLD WDXJKW at Elsie Rogers Elementary in WKH 3+0 VFKRRO GLVWULFW IRU years. Teaching third graders ZDV QRW MXVW D MRE IRU KHU LW ZDV her passion. She remembered all her students and kept in touch with many of them throughout the years. Virginia not only loved raising KHU IDPLO\ VKH ORYHG WKH /RUG DQG VHUYHG +LP IRU RYHU 75 years. She was in many Bible studies, prayer groups and taught Sunday school throughout her 55+ years as a PHPEHU RI 6W 0DUN 0LVVLRQDU\ &KXUFK Virginia was an avid reader and she loved to travel to new places. She loved college basketball and professional baseball. Dr. John M. Smith DJH SDVVHG DZD\ RQ 0D\ +H ZDV ERUQ 0DUFK LQ (OPLUD 1 < WR 5REHUW DQG &DWKHULQH 6PLWK +H OH̃ WKH United States at a young age with his pioneer missionary SDUHQWV WR .HQ\D $IULFD DQG returned to the United States DV D WHHQDJHU +H WKHQ DWWHQGHG 0W &DUPHO +LJK 6FKRRO IROORZHG E\ .HQWXFN\ 0RXQWDLQ Bible School, and then graduated IURP $VEXU\ 8QLYHUVLW\ LQ +H PDUULHG -RDQ 5 6PLWK QHH +LOHV DQG WKH\ HQMR\HG \HDUV of marriage until her death in 0DUFK 7KH\ ZHUH EOHVVHG ZLWK ƃYH children, all surviving: Jonathan &LQGL 6PLWK %HWK 'HUULFN /XH -DQ 6PLWK -HQQLIHU -RQDWKDQ 6DER DQG -XOLH 7RGG 7LURWWD /DWHU VL[ JUDQGFKLOGUHQ DQG D great-grandson brought him PXFK MR\ +H DOVR OHDYHV D brother and two sisters: Anna 9HUQH /HH 'DYLG 6PLWK DQG 6DUDK /HV :HUQHU 'XULQJ WKH HDUO\ \HDUV RI PDUULHG life, John taught high school and pastored a small church in 2KLR /DWHU KH DWWHQGHG 2KLR State University, and received KLV GRFWRUDO GHJUHH LQ PDMRULQJ LQ 0LFURELRORJ\ DQG %LRFKHPLVWU\ +H WKHQ WRRN D teaching position at Asbury 8QLYHUVLW\ LQ :LOPRUH .\ XQWLO ZKHQ KH PRYHG WR 0LVKDZDND ,QG WR WHDFK DW %HWKHO 8QLYHUVLW\ +H ZRXOG ƃQLVK KLV FDUHHU DW %HWKHO &ROOHJH UHWLULQJ LQ DV 3URIHVVRU (PHULWXV %LRORJ\ +H DWWHQGHG *RVSHO &HQWHU 0LVVLRQDU\ &KXUFK IRU RYHU \HDUV VHUYHG RQ WKH 0LVVLRQV Committee and taught Sunday 6FKRRO XQWLO KH ZDV \HDUV ROG +H XVHG KLV EHDXWLIXO EDVV voice to sing in the church FKRLU VLQJ VRORV DW +XEEDUG +LOO chapel services, and participate as a member of South Bend Symphonic Choir for over 20 years. +H OH̃ D SRVLWLYH LPSDFW on so many lives and was loved greatly! <RX PD\ EH WLUHG RI OLYLQJ DW WKH PHUF\ RI WKH ƄXFWXDWLQJ VWRFN DQG UHDO HVWDWH PDUNHWV $ FKDULWDEOH JL̃ DQQXLW\ LV D JL̃ PDGH WR %HWKHO 8QLYHUVLW\ SURYLGLQJ \RX ZLWK D VHFXUH VRXUFH RI ƃ[HG SD\PHQWV IRU OLIH In addition, you will receive an income tax deduction for the charitable JL̃ SRUWLRQ RI WKH DQQXLW\ DQG EHQHƃW IURP SD\PHQWV WKDW PD\ EH SDUWLDOO\ WD[ IUHH <RXU JL̃ ZLOO DOVR VWUHQJWKHQ WKH PLVVLRQ RI %HWKHO For more information contact #OEȄQ -A7HGȄE!#EQȆEK6ȄHSEOPHQȀ EDR CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY 27 FALL 2022