Rev. Elton Dale Bethell

Dale was born in Doniphan, Missouri September 25, 1923, the only child of Ed and Rena Bee Bethell. He passed away in Fresno on November 20, 2011. When he was one year old, his family moved to California. From childhood he attended the First Baptist Church of Bakersfield, where he eventually committed his life to Christ and was Called to ministry. He graduated from Kern County Union High School in 1941.

Dale enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943. He flew 32 bombing missions over Germany in B-24s of the 389th bomb wing (8th Air Force) as a radio operator and top turret gunner. His flying concluded in 1945 after being injured when parachuting out of a B-24 at low level just prior to its crashing in England. The war ended as he was recuperating.

After being discharged from the military, Dale returned to Bakersfield where he met his future wife and loyal partner in ministry, Midge Spalinger. They were married June 10, 1949 and celebrated their 50th anniversary just before her death in early 2000. He graduated from the University of Redlands in 1950 and then studied for his Master of Divinity at the Berkeley Baptist Divinity School. He was ordained into Christian Ministry in 1953.

He served as Pastor of three churches: First Baptist Church of Rio Linda, First Baptist Church of Lindsay, and Atwater Baptist Church. In 1976 Dale accepted the position of Area Minister for the American Baptist Churches of the West, serving as a "pastor to pastors" of the 52 Churches of the Central San Joaquin Valley area. After his retirement in 1989, he continued to serve as a part-time staff member at the First Baptist Church of Fresno. In 1998 he received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the American Baptist Seminary of the West for his exemplary and compassionate ministry.

Two years after Midge's death, Dale married Faye Brown, a retired missionary, who shared many of his interests. They were married for nearly 10 very special years.

Dale is survived by his wife, Faye Bethell of Fresno; by his children, the Rev. Lauran Bethell of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Kim Bethell and his wife Karol of Clovis, and Brent Bethell of Fresno; grandchildren: Robin Bethell of Dallas, Texas, Ryan Bethell of Tempe, Arizona, and Matthew Bethell of Clovis; step-sons Kevin Hobgood-Brown of Sydney, Australia, Scott Brown of Portland, Oregon and Rob Hecker of Colfax, CA.

A celebration of Dale's life will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at the First Baptist Church of Fresno.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be sent to the First Baptist Church of Fresno for their missionary support fund.