Rev. Frank Howland Doten

Reverend Frank Howland Doten Frank Doten was born on the south side of Chicago to Frank and Lillie Doten on July 16, 1929. Frank had an older sister, Rose Marie, and an older brother who died in infancy. A Depression Era child, Frank grew up in a loving family that attended the South Shore Methodist Church where his father served as a church organist and Sunday School Superintendent. Tragically, Frank's dad died of a heart attack when Frank was 16. About that time Frank began attending South Shore Baptist Church because of the youth group and a young, brilliant pastor named Carl Lundquist. Frank was greatly impacted by Carl Lundquist and soon followed him to Bethel College where Frank majored in history. At Bethel Frank met the love of his life, Virginia (Ginny) Moody, and they married on April 6, 1951. At his last family gathering at Eagle Crest on December 30, Frank made a long speech to 30 family members about Ginny saying, "I still can't believe she said 'Yes' to me! She was and is so beautiful." They were married just shy of 72 years and did life together during all those years. Following graduation from Bethel Seminary, Frank pastored for over 60 years in various roles including CE Director, Church Planter, Senior Pastor, Interim Pastor, Pastor to BGC (Converge) Missionaries and Visitation Pastor. Together with Ginny, Frank served churches in Greater Chicago; Iowa City; Boulder, Colorado; Des Moines; St. Paul; Makati, The Philippines; Colorado Springs, Phoenix; North St. Paul, and Eden Prairie. Frank loved the church of Jesus Christ and served her faithfully. Frank's sweet spot in ministry was doing pastoral care. He sincerely cared about people and their needs. He also had a deep commitment to missions and missionaries. Churches he pastored supported local and global missionaries and they developed "mission programs." Finally, Frank loved studying the Bible and teaching it in classes and groups. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Bible, able to recall verse and reference quickly. He rose before dawn every morning to read his Bible and pray, and he read through the Bible every year. Frank also loved his family greatly. Together with Ginny, they raised five kids - Carla, Tim, Brian, Steve and Lori. They also have 16 grandkids and 27 great-grandkids; nieces and nephews. Over the years Frank and Ginny have logged thousands of hours watching ballgames and concerts. Frank once remarked, "My most fruitful evangelistic conversations happened in bleachers watching you kids play sports." Frank brought the presence of Jesus everywhere he went with his smile, his interest in others and his ability to ask questions. Frank was great at getting people to talk about themselves. Frank also had a robust prayer life. He prayed daily for a long list of family members, friends, missionaries, churches, Bethel, and people in his path. Frank believed God answers prayer so he practiced prayer and loved to include prayer in most every gathering and meeting. Frank went home to be with Jesus in the early morning of January 31. Even in his final days he did all he could to have a sweet spirit, thanking his nurses and caregivers at St. John's Hospital. Frank is missed already but we rejoice he is with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Visitation Friday, February 3rd from 4-7PM at Holcomb-Henry-Boom-Purcell Funeral Home, 515 Hwy 96 W., Shoreview. Memorial Service Saturday, February 4th at 11 AM (visitation from 10-11 AM) at Woodridge Church, 1500 Co Rd 24, Medina, MN. Interment Roselawn Cemetery, Roseville, MN. Memorials preferred to READ Ministries, Bethel University or Northwood Church Maple Grove.

Tributes

Rev. Frank Howland Doten

July 16, 1929 - January 31, 2023

Tributes

Rev. Frank Howland Doten

July 16, 1929 - January 31, 2023

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