Obituary of Milton Bidwell Vereide

Died on October 24, 2008 in Seattle, Washington, concluding a 24 year struggle with Parkinsons disease. He was 89 years old. Mr. Vereide, a graduate of the University of Washington, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Yale Language Institute was ordained a minister of the word by the Presbytery of Washington in 1949, at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, Washington D.C. He at that time resided at 2324 Massachusetts Avenue, Sheridan Circle. In 1939, Mr. Vereide was a representative of Quaker Oats Company. As a teenager, Vereide was the initial operator of Seattles first elevator at the 6-story Belvedere Hotel, he also delivered the Post Intelligencer in the city. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at the outbreak of World War II, and was stationed at Adak Island, and Aleutian Chain, Alaska as Master Sergeant. MS Vereide gave oversight to the enemy code interception division until the Japanese surrender. After the liberation of the Philippines, General Douglas MacArthur called for missionaries to rebuild the moral, physical, and spiritual infrastructure of the Filipino nation. Reverend Vereide served for nine years as Director of Ecumenical Missions for the merged effort of five U.S. Christian denominations in the Philippine Islands. He was financially supported in this capacity by the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. Milton Vereide founded First Presbyterian Church in Richland, Washington in 1949, following a pastorate at First Presbyterian Church in Yakima, Washington. In 1960 he served First Presbyterian Church in Lambertville, NJ and in 1962 he pastored First Presbyterian Church in North Haledon, NJ. Then from 1963 to 1971 he led John Knox Presbyterian Church in Canton, Ohio and in 1970 founded Kentview Presbyterian Church, to serve the Kent State University community in Stark County, Ohio. Finally from 1972 to 1998 he advised clergy, while serving as president of the International Ministerial Association, involving extensive global travel. He resided for the ladder thirteen years in British Columbia. Mr. Vereide moved to Sequim, Washington in 1997 and retired in 1998, with a focus upon Bible study, correspondence and pastoral counseling. Milton Bidwell Vereide was born in Seattle, Washington, October 1, 1919, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Abraham Vereide. Dr. Vereide was founder and Executive Director of International Christian Leadership. he established the National Prayer Breakfast and founded Goodwill Industries of Seattle and City Chapel. Reverend Milton Vereide was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Bonnie, in November 2004. He is succeeded by: Milton Jr. of Seattle, Timothy of Wasilla, Karen of Vancouver, B.C., Christopher of Washington, D.C., Nathanael of Sequim, WA and thirteen grandchildren. Mr. Vereides remains will be interred in the Pacific Ocean. A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 8th at 2:00 p.m. at Faith Baptist Church, 7652 Old Olympic Hwy, Sequim, WA 98382. Memorial gifts may be sent to International Outreach, Inc., Vienna, VA 22183-0573 or to National Presbyterian Missions, 4101 Nebraska Avenue NW, Washington D.C. 20016.