Raymond Van Beek

Ray Van Beek was born on a farm northwest of Westfield, ND on January 17, 1921. His parents, Andrew and Gertie (Vande Berg) Van Beek farmed until their retirement when they moved into Westfield. Ray, along with his brothers, helped Andrew with farming. Andrew, in turn, helped out with the store and was a rural mail carrier for many years while Ray operated the Westfield Store. Ray’s musical talents came from his mother and he enjoyed singing (a pass time that he enjoyed with his sister Dort) as well as playing the guitar and piano.

Life in those days was challenging in this rural area that was dependent on rain for the harvesting of crops. The depression also took its toll on rural North Dakota, part of the dust bowl of America. Ray graduated from high school in 1939. Receiving an education was important to Andrew and Gert, so Ray boarded in Pollock, SD while he attended high school. Travel was often with horse and bob sled during those snowy winters. To stay warm when it was 40 degrees below zero one day, Ray ran the 10 miles to Pollock following his dad on the bobsled.

As the depression made jobs scarce, Ray along with his brother Les, Florence (Vander Wal) Van Beek and Dorothy (Vander Vorst) Van Beek traveled to Holland, MI in 1939 to seek employment. Ray worked in the sugar beet factory. His sweetheart, Dorothy, worked in a canning factory.

Ray and Dorothy returned to North Dakota in 1940, were engaged in November and married on June 14, 1941 at the parsonage in Westfield. Dorothy worked for the minister for awhile and Ray was hired by Triple A (an agricultural agency). Ray and Dorothy settled in Linton, ND for a couple of years, then worked on his father’s farm for awhile, but this life didn’t suit Ray so he joined his brother Les as a partner in operating the general store in Westfield. His brother started a new career as an auctioneer four years later and the Westfield Store became Ray’s livelihood for an additional 11 years. During this span of time, Ray and Dorothy’s family increased. Roger was born (1942) while Ray and Dorothy lived in Linton, Milo was born while they were on the farm (1946) followed by the births of Marcia (1951), Dorinda (1956) and Paul (1958) while living in Westfield. Family gatherings at both his parents and parents-in-law were held often and fun abounded as many Van Beek Thanksgivings included competitive cards games. Music was also a major part of the Van Beek gatherings – all parts were always sung with someone (often his mother) at the piano accompanying everyone. Church life was very important to this small Dutch community. His mother was the church organist and activities, whether softball games or youth meetings were a part of church life. Ray loved playing softball and was known for his fast pitching. During those years, Ray also was known as quite the emcee for weddings and anniversary celebrations. His jokes and delivery showed his comfort speaking in front of others, a talent which served him in his later years as a minister. He also was a master at making ice cream. His children had the chore of standing on the ice maker while he cranked away on the old fashioned ice cream maker. Such fun!! And the ice cream was superb!

While life in North Dakota was in its boom stage during the 40’s and 50’s, life for Ray became complex. As businesses cropped up in small local towns, it affected his business. He had started driving a milk truck to supplement the family’s income. But while taking care of his family’s physical needs, he started struggling with his spiritual needs. In his memoirs, Ray wrote of the parallels his life took with Moses’. He grew more and more unsettled and ultimately knew he had been called to serve God in the ministry. This entailed major changes in his life, the life of his wife and the lives of the children. With Dorothy’s support, he commuted 85 miles each way weekly during his first year of college. This was his first test in committing to this long journey of completing college and seminary.

With a successful year behind him, he sold his business, his home and packed up the family and moved to Ellendale, ND. He completed college at Ellendale State Teacher’s College in three years and summer school. In the fall of 1964, when Ray entered seminary, both of his two oldest sons were enrolled in college. Dorothy worked out of the home to help make ends meet. Times were tough financially and sometimes money appeared anonymously. He taught his children the importance of tithing, that even when times were tough, you gave 10 percent to your church. Times were also tough financially as Ray and his family experienced the seriousness of Milo’s automobile accident. Dorothy no longer worked so she could care for Milo and Milo had the toughest job of rehabilitating himself. Through all this, Ray successfully completed seminary.

Ray’s first position as a minister was in a little church in Ringle, WI called Forestville Reformed Church. It was a struggling congregation, small and set in the countryside amidst a Dutch community of primarily farmers. Much like his home church, Ray felt at home there. The congregation was delighted and Ray soon found out they were also a “singing” congregation. Everyone worked hard and Ray decided to attend Dr. Robert H. Schuller’s Institute for Successful Church Leadership. What followed was amazing commitment and growth in this small congregation under Ray’s leadership. It culminated in plans to build a new sanctuary closer to Wausau, WI but still in the countryside of this small community. The success continued, the new church was opened in 1977 and Ray continued to serve this congregation until 1985. Many special occasions occurred at New Hope. He performed the marriage ceremony of two of his children – Marcia to Jack Kaiser and Paul to Laurie Geurink. He baptized all four of his grandchildren with water from the Jordan River in Israel. Three of his grandchildren (John and Maggie Kaiser and Chris Van Beek) were baptized at New Hope and he participated in the baptism of his youngest grandchild (Carley Van Beek) in Eau Claire, WI.

Ray and Dorothy also loved to travel. Pulling a camping trailer and seeing National Parks and points of interest throughout the country occurred frequently. Their goal of traveling to every state was fulfilled and their love of travel took them to new destinations when their congregation sent them on a trip to the Holy Land. In future years, this love continued – taking their children, in-laws and grandchildren to Hawaii for their 50th wedding anniversary, another trip to the Holy Land and also trips throughout Europe. It was not uncommon throughout his life that he would suggest “getting the atlas out” because it settled most arguments and answered most questions about geography, names of towns and their locations or how to get there.

After Ray decided to “semi-retire” from full-time ministry, he felt called to move west. With three children living in southern California, it was logical for him to continue working as a part-time minister in that area. His seminary president was an administrator at the Crystal Cathedral and seeing him in church one Sunday asked him to consider working there. He began his service at the Cathedral working in Pastoral Care. After a year, in addition to Pastoral Care, he was asked to head up the Prison Ministry. As prison minister, he and his staff lead weekly classes at Chino Prison. At Christmas, the Prison Ministry gave each of the 15,000 prisoners a gift box which included Christian literature, a Christmas card made by children attending the Crystal Cathedral Academy and a dozen homemade cookies. This project was known as the “cookie drive” and cookies were baked by the congregation and television viewers around the county. Ray also took up bread baking, replacing his ice cream making hobby. His staff and co-workers eagerly anticipated those special mornings when Ray arrived with a loaf of freshly baked bread.

He fully retired from his position at the Crystal Cathedral in June 1996. Ray and Dorothy decided to stay in California and moved to the retirement community at Leisure World.

Golf has not yet been mentioned, but it was a significant leisure activity for Ray throughout much of his life. He golfed every Monday in the summer while in Wisconsin (the minister’s day off). He continued to golf in California and established new friendships, playing in a foursome weekly. While at Leisure World, he made not one, but two “holes in one” on their golf course.

For ten years after retirement, Ray and Dorothy continued to travel to see their children and grandchildren in Eau Claire, WI, made frequent trips to North and South Dakota for family reunions and to many other places of interest. They continued their friendship with their dear friends Gite and Nelva Van Kampen, from Holland, MI, visiting them in their winter home in Arizona or hosting them at their home.

The entire family gathered for their 60th Wedding Anniversary in the summer of 2001. A special trip was made to North Dakota in the summer of 2005. Ray visited with his sister, Dort and many relatives during that trip. A fall at Leisure World resulted in a broken hip, but determined to walk again and be of assistance to Dorothy, Ray succeeded. They moved into Artesia Christian Home in January of 2006. Ray and Dorothy celebrated their 66th Wedding Anniversary in 2007 and a special gathering was held in August when the children were all with them. Unfortunately, a second fall resulted in his other hip being broken. This time, rehabilitation was too difficult. Instead of gaining strength, his health failed during the weeks following hip replacement surgery. He died peacefully on Saturday morning, February 16, 2008 at 7:20 a.m. with family members at his bedside.