About My Dad, by Gene Sandin:
I learned early that my Dad did not speak lightly or flippantly
about things of the Lord nor did he tolerate it. Secondly He would blend
music into many parts of his ministry. The communion service was a
non-rushed time of meaningful songs, testimonies, and prayers of the
congregation. It was truly a special time of remembering what Christ has
done for us. The other occasion was the baptismal service. Special songs of
salvation, cleansing and joy were used in between the testimonies of the
baptismal candidates. The service seemed to flow together into a victorious
celebration of the redeemed. I truly believe his faith has become sight and
I am blessed to be his son.
David Watson: I was sorry to hear of Eldon's death.
Will you please convey my condolences to Marion? Though I didn't know him
extremely well, he was always kind and considerate to me, and I enjoyed
working with Marion and him during their weeknight hymn singing meetings.
Doug Shada, President of Berean Fellowship of Churches: We were
saddened to learn of the passing of our friend and brother in Christ, Eldon
Sandin, but we rejoice that this faithful man today is more alive than he
has ever been because he is in the very presence of God. We are a Fellowship
of churches made strong by many decades of faithful service of men like
Eldon Sandin. We are grateful for his example of love for the Lord, his
family, and his ministry. Today, he celebrates with men like Ivan Olsen,
Earnie Skoog, Carl Goltz, Art VanCampen and Curt Lehman who were also
instrumental in establishing the foundation for this church fellowship. We
are thankful for Eldon and the life he shared with all of us.
Joy Lucht: The thing I remember most about my Uncle Eldon was what a
hard worker he was. He built so many buildings at camp. When he lived with
us in North Platte he was always building or fixing something. I think he
put our bathroom in in the basement and fixed an apartment for missionaries
down there. I also remember whenever we sat around the table there was much
laughter. I loved his stories and his jokes. He also loved the ministry and
loved the Lord in a wholehearted way. He was one of my favorite uncles and I
had quite a few. I loved hearing him sing with Marian and Eugene. He was a
great team person to my dad. I think of the verse,
His works do precede him. I know he is at peace and rest from his labors. I
pray for Marian, Eugene, and Beth Ann as they adjust to his absence. However
we can't comprehend what he is experiencing now in the presence of the Lord.
Tom Walker: As the Senior Pastor of North Platte Berean Church I
would like to extend our sympathies to Pastor Eldon Sandin's family today.
As the first church in which he served with Dr. Olsen, we are humbled and
blessed to have had a part in his training and service. The Fellowship is
indebted to Pastor Sandin's pioneer spirit and sacrifice in the early years
of our fellowship.
The Lord is faithful and will reward Eldon for his faithful service to this
church and the Berean Fellowship. Be assured of our prayers for you this
day.
Karen Mackey: As I get older memories are more and more a treasure to
me. There are treasured memories I have of Eldon Sandin and a few stand out.
On Sunday mornings when Eldon and Marian would sing a duet I felt the
comfort of home and the joy of belonging to God’s people. Eldon & Marian
where very good to my widowed grandmother and made it a point to call and
visit her often. Eldon even prayed with an uncle of mine to receive Christ.
Eldon’s love and commitment to his Lord was genuine and life long. He
definitely lived his faith ‘out loud’.
Gerry Sprunger: I met Eldon Sandin at Maranatha Bible Camp fifty
years ago in 1957. I was a summer student intern youth pastor from Grace
Bible Institute at the Berean Church in Ogallala, and was introduced to him
as the brother-in-law of such esteemed men as Dr. Ivan Olsen and Cliff
Gustafson. Eldon influenced us the next year upon graduation at Grace, to
accept the opportunity as pastor at the Berean Church in McCook, Nebraska.
Eldon became a good friend of ours for many years. His serious commitment to
the Berean Fellowship was flavored with his warm and friendly style of
leadership. I remember his ready humor and infectious laughter.
He was pastoring at Haxtun Berean when we were in McCook as the youngest
minister in the Fellowship. He was the pastor of Yreka Berean twelve years
later and welcomed us to the West Coast District when we came to serve the
Weed congregation. In recent years Eldon had become the oldest retired
pastor in the Fellowship, and he would call me occasionally to see how my
interim pastoral ministry in Yreka was going in 2003.
Now that he is present with the Lord it is my turn to be the oldest former
Berean pastor (see note below). What a privilege and responsibility to finish well and
encourage others to know that those pastors who have moved into the slower
lane of life do so with the knowledge that they are doing so because they
are nearing the exit to their eternal home. We rejoice in the hope we have
in the Lord. This hope is not just wishful thinking, but a joyful certainty
based on the Word of God that Eldon loved so dearly. See you soon, Eldon.
Note: I am Joy Olsen, wife of Ivan Daniel
Olsen, daughter of Rev. Kenneth and Sophie Blood. My father is still
living and was 89 years old on June l8th. My father pastored Lexington
Berean Church for 13 1/2 years, Fort Morgan, Co. for 11 years, Sterling,
Co. for 4 years as well as helping in North Platte and Maranatha Camp
for 16 months when Ivan, Sr. ask him to come. He was
secretary/treasurer of the Berean Council for 28 years and on the
Maranatha Camp board. They have been living in Grand Rapids, Michigan
and just 2 years ago resigned as a chaplain in Grand Rapids. The last
few months his health has not been good so they will be moving close to
my brother Paul in Greenville, S.C. but until that time he has been
healthy and active in his church in Grand Rapids. I believe at 89 years
old that makes him the "oldest living former Berean pastor."
Anna Grotenhuis: Dearest Cousins Eugene, Beth and Aunt Marion: We
love you and we mourn with you for Uncle Eldon. He was a man of so many
talents. He had a magnificent voice…..a wonderful thunderous laugh and
always a sparkle in his eye. He had a warm and loving heart…..even though
his heart broke and gave out in these past years. You have been by his side
through all his pain as well as during the fun, strong years. We will never
forget our family times in Northern California when we all lived near each
other. What a joyous time that was! We have tapes and pictures because of
Eldon. He was the family historian. And, thank God for that because we can
still hear his voice. Our prayer for you today is from Romans 15:13: “Now
the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may
abound in HOPE, through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Much love from all of
us, Anna, David, Christine, and Dan; and lovingly, Ruth Gustafson-Gibson.
Frank VanCampen: I’m going to miss you, Eldon, for a lot of reasons.
You’ve been a friend, a mentor, and a fellow heir of the grace of life. In
my opinion, you belong in that class of “founding fathers” in our Berean
Fellowship. I’ve some really choice memories of time spent with you and
Marian. That long trip across the Sandhills to Burwell when we were circuit
riding judges; that Arctic overnight at your mother’s place, followed by
that fabulous breakfast of Swedish pancakes; our love of good, strong coffee
and Swedish cars; the sharing of your home with Luana and me; your keen
sense of humor and easy laughter at the telling of a joke – these are some
of those memories.
I’m going to miss you, Eldon. I’m going to miss you for one other very big
reason. With you gone, there is one less of us to safeguard the English
language from total destruction and ensuing oblivion. You and I were on the
same page in the book, and it was a page composed with absolutely correct
grammar. You’d have never thought of creating a plural with an apostrophe.
You knew very well that chickens lay eggs, but people lie down. You might
have set a table, but you’d never set at one. You’d never have asked “Where
are you at?” Why? Because you never ended a sentence a preposition with.
Your keen eye and equally keen ear were both attuned to the misuse and abuse
of our mother tongue, and I have lost a kindred spirit.
I’m going to miss you for sure, Eldon. But, I know you’re rejoicing with a
whole host of others who’ve gone before you: Cliff and Ivan, Dick, Ernie,
Carl and Curt, and my dad, among others. However it works up there, if it’s
possible, greet my dad for me, will you? I’ll be seeing you one of these
days – you can count on that. Thanks for the memories.
