Church News: Valley Worship Center honors Stephen Nance

When it was Nance’s time to come into the world, his mom didn’t make it to the hospital, and he was born along side of Highway 35 in Mt. Hood, just across the street from where the church’s geodesic sanctuary stands today. Nance said that after he was born, “They (his parents) just went back home to Mt. Hood and the midwife came to the house and did her thing.”

Nance grew up in the upper Hood River valley, attended Mt. Hood grade school, Parkdale Junior High School, and Wy’east High School. He has lived in the Mid-Columbia all of his life other than his time away serving in the military. He served his country as a United States Navy Hospital Corpsman from Feb. 10, 1960, to Jan. 25, 1965, and was stationed in Southern California, Okinawa, and Naples, Italy.

He married Betty Aylsworth on Sept. 12, 1965. He began working for Neal Creek Lumber in 1965, which was bought out by Champion International Corporation in 1969, which was then bought out by International Paper Co. in 2000. Nance retired in 2001, making a total of 36 years of service in effect for the same company. Steve and Betty have three children, Kathy, Ken, and Debra, four grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

Nance began serving the church as Secretary/Treasurer and Bookkeeper in 1974. Church pastor Rev. Don Howell said if he had to use one word to sum up Steve’s life, the word would be faithful. “Steve has faithfully served the church in the position of Secretary-Treasurer and Bookkeeper for longer than most individuals have attended the church, and during this time Steve has blessed the church with his gifting and talents.

“Even though he is retiring from the job as bookkeeper, I know that Steve will continue to bless the church, it’s just the kind of person he is,” said Howell.

Send church news items to Trisha Walker at twalker@hoodrivernews.com.