A Legacy Past, Present, and Future
Doris (Swanson) Johnson '66 has family connections extending all the way back to Bethel's founder. Over a lifetime of giving, she and her husband Dennis '63, who passed away in 2019, have made their own connections with generations of students, who will continue to be impacted by the Johnsons' legacy far into the future.
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A Long-ago Gift, Regifted, is Now Giving Back
Joe and Anna have been faithful supporters of our organization. They believe it is important to help further our mission.
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Giving Away Love—Beyond Measure
Carl and Mary Schmuland joyfully give away what God has blessed them with, and in the process they've impacted Bethel students in ways too numerous to count.
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A Natural Planner Plans Ahead for Bethel
With her bequest, Sagrid E. (Eleanor) Edman, founding chair of the Bethel
University nursing program, looks to the future of nursing through a
Christian worldview.
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Raspberry Monday Celebrates Student Artists
Long ago, the impact of a car and hundreds of raspberries inspired the
funding of a scholarship for Bethel's Department of Art and Design. Now,
the Raspberry Monday Scholarship Award and accompanying exhibition continue
to impact Bethel's student artists.
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"Giving Before We Go"
Bob S'57 and Gladys Erickson consider charity their "seventh child." Their
estate plan provides scholarship funds for Bethel Seminary students now and
in the years to come.
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Endowed Scholarship Honors Memory of Anthony Nelson '20
A year ago, a tragic car accident took the life of Anthony Nelson '20, a
standout student, athlete, and business major who loved life and people.
Now, through the generosity of business-connected donors—including an
international accounting firm and Bethel business faculty and alumni—his
life continues to impact future students through the Anthony Nelson
Memorial Scholarship.
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Integrity and Charity Shape a Memorial Scholarship
Curtis Anderson created the Wilford A. Anderson Memorial Scholarship Fund
in honor of his father, who was not only a mechanical engineer, but a
businessman, entrepreneur, and inventor as well.
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Bethel-Connected for Life
Ralph and Lyn Gustafson are connected to Bethel in almost every way
possible: college and seminary alumni, former employees, donors and
supporters, parents of alumni, and hopeful grandparents of prospective
future Royals.
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A 'Bethel Tradition'
Scholarship donors Ed '48 and Joanne Johnson leave a legacy for music
students in honor of their shared love for music at Bethel. The Ed and
Joanne Johnson Scholarship was established from the residual value of their charitable gift annuity which providing them
income during their life and will benefit students with an Endowed Scholarship for years to come.
Read more about the evening with photo gallery.
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Changing Lives Through Scholarships
The annual Scholarship Appreciation Dinner honors donors by recognizing
their impact on scholarship recipients. Many have included a charitable bequest in
your will or trust to support scholarships and program endowments as part
of their legacy. To learn more about setting up Endowed Scholarships.
See a photo gallery of the evening.
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Bethel from Beginning to End
From youth, both Rod '70, S'74 and Gwen '72 Larson wanted to go to Bethel.
And that was only the beginning of a lifetime of Bethel connection,
support, and generous involvement that will benefit Bethel students for
years into the future. The couple has funded the Rod and Gwen Larson
Scholarship, an endowed scholarship supporting
Bethel students of need, and they've provided a bequest for Bethel in their
revocable living trust.
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Gene and Kathy Johnson Take the 'Long-distance View' in Supporting Journalism
Over a decade since they established the Johnson Center for Journalism and
Communication, the Johnsons remain committed to improving student
experiences through annual and planned gifts. As part of their estate
plans, they established a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT)
to help fund the center long-term while also providing tax advantages to
their family as they enter retirement. Part of the residual value of the
CRUT will be used to fund an endowed scholarship
supporting journalism students with financial aid for generations to come.
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The Impact of Estate Gifts at Bethel
For years, alumni and friends of Bethel have been electing to designate
part of their estates as gifts to the
university upon their death. From scholarships to building campaigns, the
impact is widespread. These are some highlights.
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A Gift for Generations to Come
Linda '72 and Ron Dischinger '72 have named Bethel in their will
reflecting their long-held belief in the Bethel experience. While Ron served as a social worker at Elim Park Baptist Home in Cheshire, Connecticut, he witnessed clients giving portions of
their estates to a number of causes, so when he and Linda wrote their first
will in the early 1980s, they decided to do the same.
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Holistic Giving to Match a Holistic Education
When it comes to charitable giving, Pam '72 and Paul Olson "are big, strong advocates of planned giving," Paul says. "The institution's financial viability and sustainability is assured by an endowment, and we want to help grow Bethel's future." Their deferred gift annuity and other planned gifts?including a charitable lead trust and charitable remainder unitrust — have furthered that goal.
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Longtime Bethel Donors Receive Regular Income while Supporting Bethel Seminary
By giving to Bethel through charitable gift annuities,Robert and Norma Pint continue their long history of giving to Bethel while securing income for themselves and their family.
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Holistic Investment
Dean and Tammie Junkans '83 give to Bethel through a scholarship they've created -and through a donor-advised fund. However, they make sure the university receives more than their money. This holistic giving approach includes their time, talents, and financial assistance...
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A Foundation for Giving
Alan and Becky Johnson first learned about Bethel through a small group at their church. Through the years, Bethel remains a unique place to the Johnsons. Alan says. "... it's been able to be consistent in achieving excellence in Christian education." That's a key reason the Johnsons support Bethel to this day. Since 2013, they've done almost all their giving through a Bethel Foundation donor-advised fund (DAF).
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Supporting the Bethel "Common Spirit"
A mutual admiration of Bethel sparked a love story for Gloria Nelson and Larry Rodgers. Both were widowed and open to God's will in their lives. Through Gloria's cousin-in-law, the couple met and began to realize all the connections they had to one another. But when they discovered they both supported Bethel, the final coincidence sealed it for Gloria.
Through their scholarships and now in her will, they are leaving a legacy to impact students for generations to come.
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Brothers Establish Scholarship for First-Generation, Underprivileged Students
Growing up, Sam and Matt Lacy didn't have much. They lived in a trailer park in west Texas with their parents, who both worked to hold down steady jobs but still had to cash welfare checks to make ends meet. It was a lifestyle they were expected to inherit-so the Lacy brothers surprised everyone, including themselves, when they became the first in their family to graduate from college, a feat made possible largely by scholarships.
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Bethel Receives 3 Million Gift
Singfeldt's biggest impact at Bethel continues to this day through student scholarships. This year, 29 students were able to attend Bethel thanks to Singfeldt.
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A Real Legacy
The Bergesons have found another way to serve Bethel students for generations to come. They've updated their wills to reflect their passion for preparing students to serve God in their...
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Charitable Gift Annuity Helps the Music Stay Alive at Bethel
Professor of Music Emeritus Mary Fall once traveled the world with Bethel's ensembles. Today, through a charitable gift annuity (CGA), she and her husband, Warren, ensure future musicians will have similar opportunities.
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The Impact of a Bethel Education Lasts a Lifetime
A charitable gift to Bethel is different in terms of its impact on people. ...Bethel educates people to be ambassadors for Christ and to be successful in their careers.
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Charitable Gift Annuities Are a Win-Win for Bethel Donors
Take it from retired pastor and Bethel donor Chuck Rehman-"You don't have to be a millionaire to give." After selling their cabin, Charles "Chuck" '53, S'60 and Janice Rehman took out a Charitable Gift Annuity with Bethel. "It's something I wouldn't hesitate to promote," Rehman says.
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Family Legacy Inspires Investment in Future Royals
Bethel Trustee Randy Dorn '77 and his wife, Gail, built their own family from within the Bethel community. Now, they've made it their mission to support Bethel students in creative ways, such as setting up a Donor Advised Fund (DAF).
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Brief Time at Bethel Inspires Lifetime of Giving
Dan Engstrom attended Bethel University for just one year, while his wife Linda served as a Bethel employee for three years in the late 1960s. Despite their brief time at the university, the Engstroms have given to Bethel for years through multiple CGAs....
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Former Trustee Stays Connected to Community through Giving
Church friendships inspired Neil Whitehouse to serve on Bethel University's Board of Regents. Today, the Whitehouses receive income that will continue through their lifetime from a CRUT that will also benefit their church and Bethel for years to come...
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Meet Flossie Winquist: Longtime Bethel Nurse and Faithful Donor
Flossie served Bethel students as campus nurse for 36 years. Her legacy of service and support will continue well past her lifetime through funds designated to Bethel in her will and through the "Florence Winquist Nursing Scholarship Fund."
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Enriching Lives through a BUILD Scholarship
Born in a small Montana town when education wasn't available for students with Down Syndrome, Mayme Okken never moved past learning to write her name. Joyce DeHaan '67 and her husband, Ed, recently honored Mayme by creating a BUILD scholarship in her name.
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Donor's Investment Comes Full Circle
Rae Lindgren provided generously for Bethel students for 20 years before her death in 2016. The estate gift she set up through her IRA will benefit students for decades to come.
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IRA Rollover Legislation Expands Options for Donors
Chuck Scott '68 has given faithfully to Bethel for more than 40 years. He sees giving a direct contribution out of his IRA to be "a great advantage" and a way to advance the Kingdom of God.
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"You Can't Out-give God"
When asked to share her story, a faithful Bethel donor said she would prefer to remain anonymous, but she would write a letter about why she gives to Bethel each year. She passed away just weeks after sharing about her love for Bethel and giving...
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Meet Peter Rekstad '85: Foundation Board Member is "All In" at Bethel
Peter Rekstad '85 is an alumnus, Bethel Foundation board member, Bethel parent, and more. He works as an investment professional who often assists clients in giving gifts of stock, rather than selling it and giving the IRS part of the proceeds. His advice is to use one's portfolio, rather than significant sums of cash, for charitable giving.
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Creating a Legacy in Chemistry: Visionary Investment
When Dale Stephens began teaching chemistry at Bethel in 1968, he was shocked at the very limited facilities available to students. Since then, he and his wife have invested heavily in provided resources and research opportunities to Bethel science students through IRAs.
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Multibusiness Owner John Roise Sets Corporate Goal to Give
John Roise, president and owner of Lindsay Window & Door, believes in giving rather than spending the resources he's acquired, and has given generously through gifts of stock to support Bethel students.
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Alumni Create Scholarship to Honor Favorite Communication Studies Professors
Dana Ripley '92 and Gus Broman '92 started a scholarship to honor their favorite communications professors, Philip and Leta Frazier...
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From Students to Donors, the Wiersums have Experienced a Lifetime at Bethel
When Dan and Marleen Wiersum met and fell in love at Bethel in the winter of 1969, little did they know it was just the start of their Bethel journey.
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