In Memoriam

GENEVA JONES BOOTH ’35 died March 15, 2006. She was 91 years old. Born in Centralia, Washington, Geneva was a gifted pianist who used her talents throughout her life. While at SPC, she met CLAYTON BOOTH ’35, her future husband. Their marriage lasted more than 66 years, until his death in April 2003. Playing the piano and organ, Geneva accompanied singers in churches and on the radio. She and her husband appeared in youth rallies, evangelistic meetings, and churches across the United States before settling in Seattle in 1947. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Geneva accompanied her husband and brother-in-law on a live daily radio broadcast called “Morning Cheer.” Later, she played the organ for a number of Seattle-area funeral-home services. Geneva is survived by a daughter, VIRGINIA BOOTH ’67; three sons, including WILLIAM BOOTH ’64; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

JOYCE CANNON DINAPOLI ’56 died December 28, 2005, at the age of 71. Born in Ritzville, Washington, Joyce was raised on a wheat ranch in Kahlotus, Washington. After graduating from SPC, she taught school in Ephrata, Washington, for a year and then in Bridgeport and Stratford, Connecticut, for 30 years. She was a member of the Greater Bridgeport Retired Teachers Association. Joyce is survived by one son, one daughter, and two grandsons.

BERNICE GREGORY DENISON ’58 died February 10, 2006. She was 71 years old. Born in Los Angeles, California, she was married to WES DENISON ’56. Bernice worked as an elementary school teacher in the Kent (Washington) Public School District. She was also a member of the Kent Christian Center, a Bible school teacher, and a writer. Bernice is survived by Wes, her husband of 48 years; one son; two daughters; and five grandchildren.

ESTHER FLOWERS, a professor of education at SPC between 1971 and 1973, died March 12, 2006, at the age of 86. Raised in North Dakota, Esther and her three sisters maintained the family farm during the Great Depression. After high school, she graduated from Valley City State Teachers College in North Dakota. Soon afterward, she married Harold Carlson. With a master’s degree in children’s literature, Esther taught at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, before joining the SPC faculty. Active in the Methodist church, she spent her retirement in Sequim, Washington, where she served as a board member for Olympic Educational Service District No. 114. Preceded in death by Harold, a daughter, and her second husband, Noel, Esther is survived by a grandson, a sister, and several stepchildren.

DAN KRESTINSKI ’74 died April 13, 2006. He was 62 years old. Born the 10th of 11 children, he was raised in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. For the past 21 years, Dan served as director of Camp Homewood, a year-round Christian camp on Quadra Island, British Columbia. He is survived by his wife and three sons.

SHARON MCCHESNEY ’64 died June 4, 2005, from ovarian cancer. She was 62 years old. After earning her teaching certificate at SPC, she taught in the Highline (Washington) School District until her children were born. Sharon is survived by two daughters, including LISA MCCHESNEY SIEDENBURG ’91; four granddaughters; and one grandson.

RICHARD NAGLE ’50 died February 7, 2006, at the age of 83. Born in Park Rapids, Minnesota, Richard served in the U.S. Navy during World War II , and was stationed in the Philippines. After the war, he was a member and chaplain for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6152. In 1979, Richard received a master’s degree in Christian education from Grace Graduate College in Winona Lake, Indiana. He pastored churches in Minnesota, Washington, and California while also serving as a teacher and administrator in Christian higher education for more than 30 years. In 1971, he was honored by the California Association of Christian Schools with the Teacher of the Year award. He enjoyed traveling with his wife of 62 years, Marelle, and together they visited Sweden, England, Holland, Spain, Greece, Mexico, and Guatemala. Richard is survived by Marelle, two daughters, one son, eight grandchildren, and 15 greatgrandchildren.

JAMES NEISER ’45 died December 17, 2005, from complications due to a fall. He was 91 years old. Born in Butler, Pennsylvania, James attended Ohio Valley Business College, where he felt a call to full-time ministry. In 1940, he graduated from ChicagoEvangelistic Institute. While there, he met Dorothy Beatty, and they married in Eatonville, Washington. After graduating from SPC, he attended Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He served Methodist pastorates in the Washington cities of Sultan, Stanwood, Burlington, Lacrosse, Everett, and Tacoma. James also enjoyed gardening and woodworking. Before his death, he and one of his sons crafted the fuselage of an experimental airplane. James is survived by Dorothy; three sons; two daughters, including ROBERTA NEISER RISE ’66; 11 grandchildren, including SHANON RISE ’97; and four great-grandchildren.

ARDELE LANE OGDEN ’44 died on July 14, 2005, at the age of 83. After graduating from SPC, she earned a master’s degree from Northwestern University Medical School and a doctorate in physiology from the University of Illinois Medical School. A member of the American Physiological Society, Ardelle was one of the first women to earn a doctorate in physiology. After she retired, she was honored by Northwestern University with the title of professor emerita of physiology. She is survived by one son, a brother, two nephews, and a niece.

EVA PRIOR ’58 died January 19, 2005. She was 84 years old. Born in Westview Saskatchewan, Canada, Eva and her family moved west to British Columbia, where she spent her childhood. After graduating from SPC, she traveled to Chicago in 1962 to work for a para-church ministry. While there, she had the opportunity to meet Billy Graham; shortly after, she joined his team during the preparation and execution of a major crusade at Chicago’s Soldier’s Field. Following the Crusade, and until her retirement in 1987, she worked in the North American and international crusade ministry as executive assistant. Eva is survived by two sisters, including M. GRACE PRIOR ’62; a brother, MEL PRIOR ’56; and nieces and nephews.

RUBY TOMS TURNER ’45 died October 6, 2005, at the age of 91. Born in Reardon, Washington, Ruby financed her SPC education by tutoring, working as a telephone operator, and giving dramatic readings. From 1937 to 1939, she taught in a one-room schoolhouse near Mondovi, Washington. In 1942, she began a long teaching career at Whittier School in Seattle. Ruby was the school’s first “exchange” teacher and spent the 1951 school year in Sheffield, England. In 1955, she visited the Holy Land, where she met her future husband, Nathan Turner, also a teacher. After nearly 16 years of marriage, he died in 1973. Ruby retired in 1980 following a 41-year teaching career, but remained active in the United Evangelical Free Church, where she served as a deaconess. She is survived by a niece; a nephew, L. MURAY LORANCE ’67; and many grand-nephews.

RICHARD VOGEL ’57 died February 14, 2006. He was 77 years old. After graduating from SPC, Richard was a counseling psychologist and associate professor at Bemidji State University in Northern Minnesota for 15 years. Co-founder and president of Evangelical Ministries Inc., Richard was also an ordained minister. He is survived by his wife, CAROL COLWEL VOGEL ’57; three daughters; two sons; and 28 grandchildren.

KARLA TENKLEY WEIDKAMP ’86 died March 18, 2006, after more than three years battling breast cancer. She was 42 years old. With her husband, Scott, and their two young children, Karla often went on camping, fishing, and hunting trips. She also enjoyed working for Snapper Shuler Kenner Insurance, where she was employeed for more than 19 years. Karla is survived by Scott, her husband of 17 years; one daughter; and one son. A memorial fund to benefit her 12- and 6-year-old children, The Weidkamp Children’s Fund, is available to receive donations at any Peoples Bank.

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