Ivan D. Auten

Ivan Dale Auten, of Gray Court, South Carolina, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on October 31, 2023, at the age of 94. He was born on November 15, 1928, in Goodrich, Michigan, and grew up on a dairy farm. After graduating high school, Ivan enlisted in the Navy where he served two years as a corpsman at the Chelsea Naval Hospital in Boston.

Upon his discharge, Ivan attended Bob Jones University. Although he earned a BA in Bible, he always said that he received his biblical training at the knee of his godly mother. In the summer following his junior year, Ivan married his college sweetheart, Pattie Ruth Lewis, a Southern belle from Virginia. Two years later, along with two young daughters, they headed for Alaska to pursue careers in education.

Ivan and Pat fell in love with this beautiful state and decided to make it their home. Their early years were spent teaching in small towns and villages, some of which had 2-teacher schools that went only through the eighth grade. Together they made life in these little communities rather exciting by putting on elaborate carnivals, Christmas programs and graduation ceremonies!

Through the years, Ivan also enjoyed salmon fishing and moose hunting. He even tried his hand at homesteading and built a one-room log cabin for his family of six. They eventually put down more permanent roots in Anchorage where Ivan did a good portion of the construction on their new home.

After 23 years, Ivan retired from the classroom but continued working at various jobs he considered to be “fun stuff.” Among his favorites was being part of a construction team working at the oil fields on the North Slope above the Arctic Circle.

Over time, numerous trips were made across the rough Alcan Highway, traveling back and forth to visit Stateside friends and relatives. On occasion, vehicle damage required Ivan to devise an emergency hack such as securing a drive shaft with a shoe string or using a piece of chewing gum to patch a leak in the gas tank!

After 38 years in Alaska, Ivan and Pat moved to Greenville, SC, to be closer to family. Two years later, Pat was promoted to her heavenly home, just a month short of their 43rd anniversary.

To everyone’s surprise, Ivan went on to marry two more times! Firstly, he was reconnected with Shirley, a gal he had dated during his navy days. He relocated to Hershey, Pennsylvania, where they shared 15 years together. After her passing, Ivan moved to an independent living facility where, a few years later, he met Jean. He proposed to her on his 89th birthday and they were married almost four years.

Shortly after her death in 2021, Ivan again moved to the Greenville area to be near family. He lived with his daughter Cathie and her husband Ted before spending his last few months at the Richard Campbell Veterans Home.

Ivan was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ruth Auten; his wives Pattie Lewis Auten, Shirley Ekstrom Auten and Jean Harrison Auten; a son, John Dale Auten; sons-in-law Larry Bentley and Bob Dempsey; a brother, Kenneth Auten; and a sister, Helen Ranney.

He is survived by his three daughters, Cathie Perry (Ted), Camille Dempsey and Carol Bentley; a brother, David Auten; a stepson, Wes Ekstrom (Donna), and stepdaughter, Joan Champ (Jim); 5 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

The family will hold a private celebration of life and committal service on November 15th at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Greenville, SC. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Teen Mission Fund at Morningside Baptist Church, 1115 Pelham Road, Greenville, SC 29615.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeycenturydrive.com for the Auten family.