Lucille Versolenko

Lucille (Van Zandt) Versolenko was born on September 9, 1923, in Haywarden, Iowa, and went to be with her Lord on April 25, 2017 in Salem, surrounded by her family. She was the eighth of nine children--four brothers and four sisters. Shortly after her sixth birthday the family moved to Walla Walla, WA, where they began attending a little Mission church, and accepted Christ. She met her futurehusband, Fred Versolenko, at the Mission and they were married in February,1941.For the next 14 years Fred traveled as an evangelist, after which they pastored in Stanfield, OR. In 1955 Central Assembly (now Peoples Church) called them to serve as their pastor. They accepted and moved to Salem. The church grew under their leadership, and Pastor Versolenko led the church to relocate to a new site on Summer Street. Shortly after the dedication of the new church in 1964, Pastor Versolenko was killed in an airplane crash, which was a life-changing event for Lucille. She went back to school and received her GED diploma, and then trained as a licensed practical nurse. Hired by Salem Memorial Hospital, she worked there for22 years, primarily in the recovery room. She continued to attend Peoples Church for a total of 62 years. There she taught Sunday School, and sang in the choir, and served in many other positions of ministry. She was a warm encourager of others with a particular heart for those who were down and out. She is survived by her children: Alvin (Dixie) of Dallas, Judi (Warren) Bullock ofKeizer, Rich of Lebanon, and Tye (Scott) Covey of Central Point. She is also survived by her sister, Beverly, of Auburn, WA., her sister-in-law, Thena Bamber, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was "grandma" to 10 grandchildren, and11 great grandchildren. Gifts in her memory can be made to Peoples Church Missions, 4500 Lancaster Dr.NE, PO Box 17879, Salem, 97305, or www.peopleschurch.com.Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 4th form 4-7pm at Howell-Edwards-Doerksen with Rigdon-Ransom Funeral Directors. A memorial service will be held at Peoples Church on May 5 at 2 p.m.