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Robert Van Alstine

December 31, 1927 — January 31, 2015

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Rev. Robert Leslie Van Alstine went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 31 2015. He was born on December 31, 1927 in Kalispell delivered by his great grandmother whom was a mid- wife. Robert graduated from Flathead High School and was involved in sports. He played baseball, basketball and ice hockey. His first job was for the Daily Interlake as a paperboy, and then he went on to work for the Hungry Horse News and the Daily Interlake. Bob then worked on the railroad where he learned morse code. Bob joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Paris, France during World War II. He was in the Communications division at S.H.A.P.E. Headquarters. After serving his country Bob married his wife Maralyn on October 26, 1952. He accepted the Lord as his Savior through the influence of Rev. Ralph Werner. He started attending Bethel Baptist Church and Rev. Laurel Inabnit was his mentor. Bob was led to go to Omaha Baptist Bible College in Omaha Nebraska were he obtained his B.S. degree. He went to school fulltime and worked evenings at the Omaha World Herald as a teletype while raising a family, and was the editor at the school paper. After graduating, Bob pastored several churches; eventually he became the co-founder and executive director of the Baptist Child Placement Agency in Seattle. He worked there for 16 years and after retirement Bob and Maralyn retired in Kalispell. Bob, in his retirement became a published author, a poet, had two books published, was known as the wordworker, and was deacon of Bethel Baptist and on the mission board. Bob was preceded in death by his father Leon Van Alstine, mother Edith Fredenberg Van Alstine, brother Richard Van Alstine, sister Laura Patterson, and wife Maralyn Eayrs Van Alstine in 2007. He is Survived by daughters Kathy Cox (Steve), Lorrie Bentley (Derek) and Allison Latimer, brother Walter (Glen) Van Alstine and sister Barbara Patterson, Bob had 7 grandsons Corey Earp, Kelly Earp, Brandon Earp, Joshua Cox, Nathaneal Cox, Jeremiah Gillespie, Jedediah Latimer and 11 great grandchildren. A private burial will take place at C.E. Conrad Cemetery and a celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday February 5, 2015 at Bethel Baptist Church with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Robert’s name to Baptist Mid Missions Foundation P.O. Box 308011 Cleveland, OH 44130-8011.

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