Rev. Ike Foster
Missionary to Korea
Home with the Lord Friday, June 4, 2010

At approximately 9AM Friday morning June 4th in Seoul Korea Bro. Ike Foster was found dead in his home where he lived alone after his wife Jane had passed away in August of 2006.

Bro. Ike will be buried beside his wife in Korea, the country they both loved.

Ike and Jane Foster became missionaries to the field of Japan in 1948. In 1950 they chose to become a part of the newly formed Baptist Bible Fellowship. In cooperation with the United States Army, Bro. Foster worked as a chaplain with the American servicemen in Korea during the Korean war. In 1954, after the Korean conflict, the Fosters went to Korea as missionaries. They have two children. Jane went home to be with the Lord on August 11, 2006.

Rev. Dwane Baker
Missionary to Haiti
Home with the Lord Sunday, January 3, 2010

Dwane Nelson Baker passed away January 3, 2010.  He was born May 23, 1940 in Furley, KS.

Dwane accepted Christ when he was 10 years old.  He graduated from BBC in 1964 and in 1997 with his BA.  He pastored in Prescott, KS for three years and then served as a missionary in Ethiopia, England, and Haiti for 43 years.  He was well-known for his use of visuals during teaching and preaching.  The Patriarch of our family will be missed greatly.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Janice Baker, four daughters:  Rebecca, Deborah, Lydia and Anna; four sons-in-law; 13 grandchildren, one sister Alice Michaelis and one brother Lloyd Baker.

A Memorial service will be held Friday, 10:00 AM at West Division Street Baptist Church in Springfield, MO and Saturday at 1:30 PM in Furley, KS.  Online condolences may be left at www.walnutlawnfuneralhome.com.

Rev. Don Espinosa
Retired Missionary to Argentina
Home with the Lord Monday,
November 23

Don Espinosa, 74, of Meridian passed away from this life to life everlasting in his home on November 23, 2009.   A Funeral service to honor his home-going will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, November 30th at Treasure Valley Baptist Church, 1300 S. Teare, Meridian.  Burial will follow at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery at 1:00 P.M..  The family will greet friends at the Chapel of the Chimes Funeral Home, 105 E. Carlton Ave., Meridian, Idaho, on Sunday from 1-4 P.M..  Don was born in Long Beach, California on Dec. 4, 1934.  He grew up there and at age 18 joined the Army during the Korean War. He was bound and determined to be well prepared if he was to be sent to Korea, but the Korean conflict ended while he was in Basic Training.  He spent his army time in Orlean, France.  At age 26 he accepted Christ as his Savior and shortly after his salvation he surrendered to preach the Gospel. A year later he went to Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri to prepare for the ministry.  There he met his wife, Cherie.  Upon graduation he took his family to Long Beach, California and started the Bible Baptist Church.  He pastored there for 6 ½ years.  God then opened the door for him and his family to go to Argentina, S.A. as missionaries.  They spent nearly thirty years there on the field and built several churches. Even through paralysis from a car accident, many surgeries and other physical problems he remained on the field. In 2001 he had to return to the States following a massive stroke which left him completely debilitated. After a year in Springfield, Missouri he and Cherie moved to Meridian, Idaho where he lived out the rest of his life, still serving and depending on his Lord.

         Don was preceded in death by his parents, Jose Del Carmen Espinosa, and Dorothy Peterson,   and beloved sister Dolores Del Carmen Montana.  He is survived  by his wife, Cherie and his 5 children: Donna Westergard and her husband, Val, of Meridian, Judy Sanchez and her husband, Daniel, of Boise, Shelley Neumann and her husband, Billy, of Osborne, KS, John Espinosa and his wife, Miriam, of Meridian, Anna Daniel  and her husband, Nathan, of Meridian, and 13 beloved grandchildren: David, Vicki, ,Zach, Isaac, Adam, Jessica, Sarah, Matthew, Rachel, Joey, Diego, Abby and Alexandra.

            Dad, we will miss you so much.  You taught us to never give up, to never stop serving God.  Your cheerful attitude, even in the face of pain and death, cheered up those friends and family who came by to cheer you up.  Even as you lay dying, you were still serving God by telling doctors, therapists and hospice workers about Him.  Your excitement about getting to go to Heaven, getting to see Jesus, and getting to walk again made your home-going easier to bear, although we feel the loss deeply and sorrow for our time away from you.  But we know that when our time comes, you will be there to greet us and welcome us home.  Thank you for that assurance.  Your influence here on earth will continue in the church and people you loved so dearly in Argentina, in the souls that continue to be saved as your spiritual children strive to reach others for the Christ you served for so long and so well.  You can truly say with Paul, “I  have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.   Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.  II Timothy 4:7-8”   Thank you for the wonderful legacy you have left behind. 

The family would like to express our deep gratitude to the loving support of friends and family.  In lieu of flowers please send your donations to Treasure Valley Baptist Church specified for the work in Argentina.

Mrs. B'Etta Funk
Retired Missionary to the Philippines
Home with the Lord Friday, September 25

B-Etta Funk was born August 17, 1922, in Perry, Oklahoma. She graduated to heaven September 25, 2009. She was married to Leslie G. Funk on July 5, 1955, in Mead, Nebraska, on his return from the military in World War II. Les was captured by the Japanese in the Philippines and endured the Bataan Death March and spent 39 months in a Japanese prison camp. Les preceded B-Etta to heaven on November 30, 1987. Starting in 1951, B-Etta served as an independent missionary in the Philippines before she and Les were married. They were approved as Baptist Bible Fellowship missionaries in 1955, and were instrumental in starting a number of churches in the Philippines and in Australia, where they also served. She was preceded in death by Les; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mayer; and four brothers. She is survived by three sisters-in-law and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, September 29, 2009, in Greenlawn Funeral Home North, with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 12 to 1 p.m. Tuesday, in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Baptist Bible Fellowship Philippines fund.

Rev. James D. Strickland
Missionary to Argentina
Home with the Lord Wednesday, August 5, 2009

James Darrell Strickland was born May 15, 1925 and arrived in Heaven on August 3, 2009 doing what he loved best, preaching the Word of God. James was preceded in death by his son, Daniel Dean Strickland. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marie Strickland; daughters, Pamela Thornton (Steven Thornton), of Argentina, Carol King, of Tennessee, Anna Dreyer (Kevin Dreyer) of Michigan, Bonnie Ahlquist of Pennsylvania and Marlene Pedersen (Anthony Pedersen) of Arizona. Grandchildren include Monica Hughes, Daniel and Joseph King, Dwight, Sarah Beth, Luke and Laura Dreyer, Ben Ahlquist, Anna Brewster, Leila Ansart, Jason Gambill, Adam Kroll and Audra Purdie. Besides all these blessings are a host of wonderful grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Berean Baptist Church from 9 to 11 a.m, Thursday, August 13. Services will be at the church at 3 p.m., with interment following at Greenlawn North in Springfield, Mo.

Rev. Richard M. Schott
Retired Missionary to the Philippines
Home with the Lord Friday, May 22

(December 29, 1927 - May 22, 2009)

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at the Central Baptist Church, Anthony, Kansas with Reverend Anselmo Ingay officiating.

Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Bluff City, KS.
Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday at Prairie Rose in Anthony, Kansas. NO VISITATION MONDAY FOR MEMORIAL DAY.

Memorials in memory of Richard may be given to the Davo City Bible Baptist Church or to the Anthony 9/11 Memorial and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, Inc., 602 E. Main St. ~ Anthony, KS 67003, is in charge of arrangements.

Rev. Thomas Leo Foltz
BBFI Missionary to Tanzania
Home with the Lord Tuesday, May 12

Thomas Leo Foltz, age 56, went to be with his Lord on May 12, 2009 in Springfield, MO.  Tom was born in Lima, Ohio on October 26th, 1952 to Byron Leo and Rowena Styles Foltz.  Tom married Joanne Elaine Votaw from Pioneer, OH on May 24, 1975.

Tom graduated from Taylor University in Fort Wayne, IN in 1975, and he received his Master’s of Divinity in 1981 from Liberty Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, VA. He was involved in Christian television in Northern VA for 16 years. Tom and Joanne have been serving as Baptist Bible Fellowship Missionaries in the East African country of Tanzania since 1997.

He was a dedicated husband, father and servant of Jesus Christ. He had a heart for people, and for boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His faith was steadfast as he encouraged others in their own faith.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Marlene Sue Thomas and Kayetta Lou Raker. Survivors include his wife, Joanne Votaw Foltz, of 34 years; his three sons, Jonathan Zelin and his wife, Danielle Hamilton Foltz of Providence, RI, Byron Leo and his wife Heather Wilson of Richmond, VA, and Nathan Andrew of Springfield, MO; his daughter, Megan Elaine of Springfield, MO; three grandchildren, Tobin, Bristel and Trevor and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home on Thursday, May 14 from 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Services will be held Friday, May 15, at West Division Street Baptist Church, pastored by Charles Bell, at 10:00 a.m. Dr. Karl Skinner, pastor of Battlefield Baptist Church in Gainesville, VA, will be officiating.
On Sunday, May 17, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. the family will receive friends and family at Bayliff’s Funeral Home in Cridersville, OH. Graveside services and burial will be led by Pastor Gary Hohman of Lima Baptist Temple, Lima, OH at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 18, at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Elida, OH.

Memorial contributions may be made to the
Bible Baptist Academy of Arusha, Tanzania;
Baptist Bible Fellowship
P.O. Box 191
Springfield MO 65801-0191.

 

Mrs. Lois Herring
BBFI Missionary to Canada
Home with the Lord late Sunday, March 8

To the memory of beloved wife, mother, and friend,
Lois Herring

Born October 5, 1937, in Detroit, Michigan, Lois Jeannette Chambers Herring passed away March 8, 2009 following complications from surgery.

Lois graduated from Bible Baptist College in Springfield, Missouri in the spring of 1958.

Lois Chambers married Dennis Herring on August 29, 1958.

Lois and Dennis served the Lord Jesus Christ as missionaries for four and one-half years in Ethiopia, three years in the Congo, and a second term of six years in Ethiopia.  Following their African mission, the Herrings served in the Province of Quebec from 1982 to 1994.  They arrived on Vancouver Island in 1994 and have served faithfully at the Chase River Baptist Church in Nanaimo, BC these last years.

Lois is survived by her loving husband Dennis, her daughter Esther, son-in-law John Jourdan, three sisters, loving in-laws and extended relations and many friends, especially her brothers and sisters in Christ.

Lois can be summed up by these words:  quiet, strong, modest, diligent, sacrificial, and most of all faithful.

Lois has gone on ahead and waits for her Christian brethren to meet her in the resurrection.

The funeral service for Mrs. Herring will be held at Grace Baptist Church of Victoria, BC on Thursday afternoon, March 12, 2009 at 1:30 pm.  Interment will follow on Friday morning in Duncan, BC, at the Mountain View Cemetery, 6493 Somenos Road, Duncan, BC, at 11 am.  The funeral arrangements are being made with McCall Bros. Funeral Directors, Ltd.

Their contact information is:
1400 Vancouver St.
Victoria, BC V8V 3W3, Canada
(250) 385-4465

 

Mrs. Joan Rohr
Veteran BBFI Missionary to Brazil
Home with the Lord late Tuesday, March 3

Joan Lavon Rohr, age 71, Joplin, passed away at 10:47 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at Freeman West Hospital after a sudden illness.

Mrs. Rohr was born May 17, 1937 in Sweetwater, Texas to the late Barney Gus Weems and Lois Weems. When Joan was 12 years old, she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior. When she was 14 years old, she surrendered her life to be a missionary wherever her Lord would send her. She was an active member of Broadway Baptist Church. Joan graduated from Newberry High School where she was active in Future Homemakers of America. She sang in the school choir and church choir. She was also used in the regional churches presenting musical numbers.

Joan attended Baptist Bible College of Springfield, Missouri, where she majored in missions. During her college years, she was active in the college and church choir. She also sang in a trio which ministered to churches in the Springfield, Missouri area. She was nicknamed by her classmates ‘The Sweet Singer from Sweetwater’. While in college, she met Lawrence Albert ‘Larry’ Rohr. They were married on March 28, 1958.

Upon graduation, they moved to Pleasanton, Kansas where Larry pastored the First Baptist Church. Joan was active teaching Sunday School and singing solos.

In 1959, Joan and Larry were approved as missionaries of the Baptist Bible Fellowship to the field of Brazil. After 10 months of deputation, they arrived in Brazil. The first 10 months were involved in language school. Upon graduation, they moved from Sao Palo to Belo Horizonte. There, they started 5 churches designing and constructing their first sanctuaries. They also started 2 Bible Colleges, one in Belo Horizonte and the other in Rio De Janeiro. They were co-founders of the Rio Minas State Fellowship. She worked in three different orphanages. She was the charity chairperson of the International Women’s Society. She directed choirs, cantatas and sung specials in all of the churches. She taught in Sunday School in both the children’s and youth departments. She was an active women’s speaker for women’s conferences, retreat’s, and weekly women’s meetings. She wrote columns for two Christian newspapers. She was a published author here in the United States. She published a ladies newsletter, ‘Apron Strings’, in Brazil. Three thousand copies were sent to 350 churches throughout Brazil. She was sought out for her wise counsel. Her winning smile drew people to her. She will be missed, but right now is celebrating with her family; loved ones; friends; and many Brazilians she has won to the Lord and well as with Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Heaven. Someday, by His grace, we will be reunited!

Survivors include her husband, Larry, of the home; her children, David Jonathan Rohr and his wife, Carla, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Dana Jo Mikkelsen and her husband, Gary, Marshfield, Missouri, Daniel Timothy Rohr and his wife, Katheryn, Joplin, Darla Lee Dahmen, Carl Junction; and twelve grandchildren, Jessica, Bubba, Chris, Betsy, Joshua, Justin, Emilie, Christie, Jonathan, Niel, Curtis, and Tyler.

In addition to her parents, Joan was preceded in death by a sister, Ethelee (Lee) Huey; and her son-in-law, Tim Dahmen.

Services will be held Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Southside Baptist Church. Pastor Mark Rounsaville and Rev. Freddie Wright will officiate. Interment will follow in Carl Junction Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Alan Harris, Ron Seward, David Wright, Greg Hailey, Tim Meadows, and Jim Gustafson. The family will receive friends at 6:00 p.m. Friday at Parker Mortuary. Memorial contributions may be made to the Joan Rohr Memorial Fund, Missions; Baptist Bible Fellowship, P.O. Box 191, Springfield, Missouri, 65801-0191.

At the request of Joan, the casket will remain closed at all times.

Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.