Clergy

The Rev. Dr. Gordon Higgins, 86, of Spearfish, South Dakota, died on Thursday, June 24, 2021, surrounded by his family, after a years-long fight against cancer. A memorial service was held on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at United Church of Christ in Spearfish, with inurnment following in Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, South Dakota.

Gordon Francis Higgins was born to Charles and Grace Higgins on April 23, 1935, in Harvard, Illinois. He was the youngest of seven brothers. After graduating high school in 1953, he joined the Air Force, serving in Korea during the Korean Conflict.

Upon his return, Gordon earned his associate degree in 1962 from Kendall College in Evanston, Illinois. But he chanced upon a brochure on a library table for Dakota Wesleyan University at Mitchell, South Dakota. At DWU he met his future wife, Jeanne DeVries. During his time at Wesleyan, he fell in love with South Dakota. After graduating in 1964 with his bachelor of arts degree in philosophy, he traveled to 20 African countries as a tour guide before returning to marry Jeanne on Dec. 27, 1964.

Gordon attended Garrett Theological Seminary at Evanston and Evangelical Theological Seminary in Naperville, Illinois, graduating with a master’s degree in divinity in 1970. He earned his doctorate in ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois, in 1979.

Gordon served as a student pastor at Methodist churches in South Dakota at Wakonda-Irene (1962-1964) and Watertown First-Florence-Henry (1965-1966). He was admitted on trial and ordained deacon by the South Dakota Conference in 1965. In 1970 he was ordained elder and admitted to full membership. He served United Methodist churches in South Dakota at Custer-Fall River Larger Parish (1970-1975), Tripp County Larger Parish (1975-1976), Winner-Conkicakse UPC-Mniska UPC (1976-1979), Pierre-Blunt (1979-1980), Pierre First (1980-1987), and Spearfish (1987-1995). He then served in North Dakota at Jamestown First from 1995 to 1997, when he retired.

Gordon continued serving Dakotas Conference churches in retirement, including Hot Springs Federated, Wagner-Tyndall, and Murdo. He also served at Spearfish UCC from 2012 until his death. He was honored as Jubilee Clergy in 2012, for 50 years in ministry.

Gordon traveled throughout his life, hosting trips to the Holy Lands and vacationing internationally with his wife and children. He visited 48 states and 65 countries.

In the early 1980s, Gordon followed through on a life-long dream to become a private pilot. He flew search and rescue missions for the Civil Air Patrol from 1983 to 1997 and served as the Civil Air Patrol chaplain. He enjoyed hiking, woodworking, and cross-country skiing.

Gordon is survived by his children, John and Keren; three grandchildren; and his brother Gerald.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne, on Nov. 21, 2015.

The Rev. Dale Emery, 84, died on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, North Dakota. A memorial service was held Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, at Wesley United Methodist Church in Grand Forks. Burial was at Bellevue Cemetery in Larimore, North Dakota. Arthur and Reba (Robinson) Emery. He graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1954. In 1956, Dale married Rebecca Hall. They divorced in 1979.

Dale was licensed to preach in 1960 by the Missouri East Conference of The Methodist Church and served as a local pastor at churches in the area while he attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He earned his bachelor of science degree in secondary education and taught high school in southeast Missouri.

In 1971 Dale enrolled at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, graduating with his master’s in divinity in 1975. He was ordained deacon in 1972 and elder in 1976 by the Kansas East Conference of The United Methodist Church.

On September 24, 1988, Dale married Helen Wiegandt Ertman in Drayton, North Dakota. Helen was a devoted wife who encouraged her husband in his ministry. She was active in UMW groups in churches where Dale served as a pastor.

After pastoring churches in Missouri and Kansas, Dale began serving in North Dakota at Drayton-Bowesmont-Glasston (1987-1990) and Ashley-Forbes (1990-1994), transferring to the North Dakota Conference in 1993. In South Dakota, Dale served at Hartford (1994-1996) and Webster-Bristol-Butler (1996-2001). He then returned to North Dakota, serving at Edgeley-Kulm from 2001 to 2004, when he retired.

Dale was honored as Jubilee Clergy, for 50 years in ministry, in 2010. In his retirement, he continued serving part-time at churches including Enderlin, New Rockford-Kvernes ELCA, and Hillsboro United UMC/UCC, until his final retirement on June 30, 2019, marking 59 years in ministry.

Dale is survived by his wife, Helen, of Grand Forks; two daughters: Robin (Dan) Holsteen, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Heidi (Tim) James, of Mankato, Minnesota; three sons: Joe (Ricki) Emery, of Bel Aire, Kansas, John (Tom) Emery, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Trent (Lisa) Ertman, of Grand Forks; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two brothers: Don (Bev) Emery, of Rio Vista, California, and David “Butch” (Johanna) Emery, of Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson.

The Rev. Steven Johnson, 69, of Alexandria, Minnesota, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The funeral service was held on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, at Epworth United Methodist Church in Valley City, North Dakota. The Rev. Kenrad Pederson, who was Steve’s friend since junior high, officiated. Burial was at the Mandan Union Cemetery, next to his late wife, Mary, in the spring.

Steven Claire Johnson was born on Aug. 11, 1952, in Lisbon, North Dakota, the youngest of eight boys born to Gertrude “Gertie” (Brickzen) and Elmer Johnson. He grew up in Milnor, North Dakota, and graduated from Milnor High School in 1970. He attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, graduating in 1974 with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and religion/philosophy.

In 1978 Steve earned his master of divinity degree from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri. He was ordained deacon and received on trial by the North Dakota Conference of The United Methodist Church in 1975 and ordained elder and member in full connection in 1979.

On June 6, 1980, Steve was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Stafney at Mohall United Methodist Church in Mohall, North Dakota. Even though they were born in opposite corners of the state, both had been baptized by the Rev. Ralph Rowe.

Steve and Mary lived a life of service, blooming where they were planted. Together they served United Methodist churches in North Dakota at Mohall-Sherwood (1977-1983), MohallSherwood-Lansford-Maxbass (1983-1984), Williston-GrenoraBainville, Montana (1984-1989), Hazen (1989-1990), HazenBeulah (1990-1994), Valley City Epworth-Salem (1994-1995), Valley City Epworth (1995-2004), and Mandan (2004-2012), and in South Dakota at Arlington-Lake Preston (2012-2013).

Mary passed away on Feb. 10, 2008. Steve retired in 2013 and moved to Alexandria, Minnesota. After retiring, he was blessed to baptize both of his grandchildren.

Steve was caring and compassionate. He is remembered as a counselor, a hospital chaplain, a community leader, a listening ear, an advisor, a mentor, and a friend.

Steve is survived by three children: Christopher Johnson, of Minneapolis, and Pamela Gust and Randy Johnson, both of Alexandria; two grandchildren; four brothers: David, of Emmet, Idaho, Marshall, of Pollock, South Dakota, John (Marilyn), of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, and Harris (Linda), of Bismarck, North Dakota; and his “ninth brother,” nephew Dwight, of Moorhead, Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; his parents; and three brothers: Gene, Tom, and Bob.

The Rev. Randolph “Randy” Cross, 65, of Fargo, North Dakota, passed away Thursday, March 10, 2022. A celebration of life service was held on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Fargo First United Methodist Church in Fargo. Randolph Martin Cross was born on Jan. 14, 1957, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Roger and Ruth Cross. As the son of an Air Force officer, he lived in many places, including Nebraska, South Carolina, Australia, and North Dakota. He graduated from Red River High School in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1974 and from the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks in 1977 with a bachelor of arts degree in Latin. In 1981 he received a master of theology degree from Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, Texas.

Randy married Cheri Beth Thompson on June 13, 1981.

Randy was ordained deacon and probationary member by the North Dakota Conference of The United Methodist Church in 1979 and elder and member in full connection in 1983. He was a candidate for bishop at the North Central Jurisdictional Conference in 2008 at Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Randy served the North Dakota and Dakotas conferences at West Fargo Flame of Faith, which he helped develop (1981Dec. 1982); Fairmount-Bethany-Rosholt (Jan. 1983-1985); Grand Forks Wesley (1985-1989); Fargo Faith (1989-1995); and Rapid City First (1995-2001). He provided leadership to the Dakotas Conference as the director of Leadership Development (2001-2005) and as Lower James River district superintendent and director of Leadership Development and Connectional Ministries (2005-Nov. 2009). Randy then took the position as assistant general secretary for the Division of Ordained Ministry of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry at Nashville, Tennessee (Dec. 2009-Dec. 2011). He returned to South Dakota and served as district superintendent for the Prairie Hills District (2012-2015) and Eastern Sunrise/Northeast District (2015-2020), retiring in 2020.

Throughout his life, Randy adored words and definitions, music, trivia, antiques, crockery, his in-laws’ farm in Grafton, his family and their cats, serving the church, and living life in the Dakotas.

He is survived by his wife Cheri; two sons: Aaron and Adam; one brother, Tim Cross (Cindy); four sisters: Lisa Medina (Rich), Robin Gross (Tony), Julie Wilde (Elaine), and Amy Cross; one brother-in-law, Brian Thompson (Kim); two sisters-in-law: Holly Meester (Brent) and Lisa Johnson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Ray; two sisters-in-law: Patricia and Marsha; and his parents-in-law, Gordon and Jane Thompson.

The Rev. Dr. Charles Sommers, 87, passed away on Monday, March 21, 2022, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh, Indiana. Funeral services were held Monday, March 28, 2022, at Newburgh United Methodist Church in Newburgh. Charles Richard Sommers was born Sept. 6, 1934, to Ted and Gen Sommers of Rock Falls, Illinois. Growing up he was active in sports, especially football. He graduated from Rock Falls High School in 1953 and served in the U.S. Army, 1953-1956. He married Linda Gentry on August 29, 1959.

Charles attended Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, graduating with his bachelor of arts degree in 1960. At Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, he earned a bachelor of divinity in 1966 and master of divinity in 1972.

Charles was ordained deacon and probationary member of the Iowa Conference in 1964 and elder and full member in 1966. He served Methodist and United Methodist churches in Iowa before training to become a hospital chaplain. In 1975 he began serving at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and transferred to the South Dakota Conference in 1976.

Charles received his doctor of ministry from North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls in 1981. He retired from the Sioux Valley Hospital chaplaincy in 1999. During retirement he assisted with the chaplaincy program at the U.S. Veterans Hospital in Sioux Falls. He later moved to Newburgh and served as a calling pastor for Newburgh United Methodist Church. In 2014 he was honored as Jubilee Clergy for 50 years in ministry.

Charles was an outdoorsman who loved fishing, especially in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He later became an expert at fly tying, creating thousands of them. He loved reading and music and was known for his dry wit. He was someone who noticed people and made new friends wherever he went.

Charles is survived by his wife, Linda; three sons: Steven (Meredith), of Atlanta, Nathan (Marianthi), of Winter Garden, Florida, and David (Kim), of Hermosa, South Dakota; seven grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.