Sue Dyrness, born Rachel Sue Miller, passed away April 19th, 2018. She was born July 19th, 1935 in Harrah, OK to Erma and Robert Miller. In December 1941, soon after the Pearl Harbor bombing, Sue and her two sisters along with their brand new china dolls were loaded into the ’39 Chevy by mom and dad and moved to the Puget Sound area in Washington where their father would work in the Naval shipyard.
Sue grew up alongside older sister, Laura, and younger sister Roberta. All born within 5 years of one another, the girls played joyfully, quarreled fiercely, and made up enthusiastically, but most of all, loved one another deeply. Nothing can compare to late-night whispers between sisters, secrets are shared and promises made. Sue was intensely loyal and always spoke up on behalf of those she loved, especially her sisters.
When Sue was yet a young girl, her family started attending Bremerton Church of the Nazarene at the promptings of a very persistent co-worker at the shipyard. A seemingly innocuous decision to attend a service to pacify a friend altered the course of their family, and Sue’s life, forever. Sue, along with her entire family, said yes to Jesus’ invitation to love and serve Him. Sue would continue to say to Jesus her entire life.
In 1955, Sue married Richard (Dick) Dyrness. The two would build a beautiful life together, built on the solid foundation of a shared faith in Christ and devotion to the church. The two had two children together, Rory and Brad. Sue supported Dick through his education and career, crafting beautiful welcoming homes wherever life took them, from Washington D.C. to Kansas City, MO, to Billings, MT. Sue had a special gift for making others feel welcome and loved. She made it a practice to invite people over for meals on a regular basis and always had a pot of coffee and a plate of cookies ready for the occasional drop-in.
During their time in Kansas City, Sue and Dick’s home was a place of stability and comfort for many seminarian families, including her own sister and her husband, Roberta and Orv. Sue was ever the servant, preparing homey dinners for isolated student-families, making conversation, even sewing maternity clothes for some of the ladies! Sue was never short on words and was able to start a conversation with anyone she met. During their time in Kansas City, Sue had the opportunity to serve the church she loved by working at the International Headquarters of the Church of the Nazarene (now the Global Ministry Center) for the General Secretary. She worked diligently, tending to details, large and small, with great care.
After Dick’s retirement from his government work, Sue and Dick returned to Bremerton to live with Sue’s mother’s Erma as a support and help to her. Both Sue and Dick gave sacrificially to serve their family in this way for 20 years as a reflection of their faith in Jesus, who gave his life away for them. During this season back in Washington, Sue served as secretary for the local Nazarene church and was a behind-the-scenes leader in church hospitality. The grandchildren remember spending weeks in the summer at the Washington home, chatting with Grandma over a bowl of berries or visiting one her favorite towns, Paulsbo.
Sue cherished being a mother and grandmother. She was proud of both her children, Brad and Rory, for what they accomplished and the people they became. She celebrated with great joy when her son was ordained in the Church of the Nazarene and encouraged him as he served the church. She burst with pride when her daughter, Rory, received her Master’s degree and taught, not only at high school, but also at Johnson County Community College. She found delight in seeing her children do what they were made by God to do.
During the last decade of her life, Sue and Dick had the opportunity to live close to their son and his wife, Brad and Debbie. They relished having family close and once again, served the local church in both Sparks, NV and Lansing, MI with joy. Sue could always be found reading a book while Dick tended to the lawn. She always had a deep love for reading and read voraciously her whole life long. Sue also enjoyed travel, especially to visit family, and particularly relished a trip to Norway to visit Dick’s family.
Sue will be remembered as a kind, welcoming woman of God who loved her family and friends deeply. Her example of generous hospitality and spirit of servanthood has impacted countless lives. Sue now rests safely in the hands of the God who loves her deeply and awaits the Resurrection alongside those who have gone before her, her parents, family, and friends. We who remain do not grieve as those who have no hope, but thank God for the rich blessing of Sue’s life and live forward in faithfulness, anticipating our reunion.
Sue is survived by her husband, Dick of 62 years;daughter, Rory (Dan) Porter of Kansas City, Kansas;
grandchildren, Jeff (Beth) Hines of Centerville, Kansas and Jennifer (Greg) Kelly of Bucyrus, Kansas;
son, Brad (Debbie) Dyrness of Lansing Michigan;grandchildren, Stephanie (Tom) Lobdell of Mountain Home, Idaho, Daniel (Katherine) Dyrness of Okinawa. Japan and Greg Dyrness of Junction City, Kansas;
9 great grandchildren, Tyler, Julianna, Delia, Rozlyn Kelly Hayley, Kylie and Jody Hines, Josephine and Jack Lobdell; sisters, Laura Jacobs of Sunnyside, Washington and Roberta (Kurtis) Vieselmeyer of Meridian, Idaho.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 4 p.m. at the South Church of the Nazarene, 401 West Holmes Road, Lansing, MI. Visitation one hour prior at the church and the Rev. Brad Dyrness will be officiating.
The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Lansing Chapel. On-line condolences may be made at www.grlansing.com.
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