Kenneth John Samuelson

Kenneth John Samuelson, 88, Page, ND, died Wednesday, November 14, 2007, at Union Hospital, Mayville, ND. Kenneth John Samuelson was born in Superior, WI on April 16, 1919, the son of Jule and Emma (Halverson) Samuelson. He graduated from high school in Superior and from the University of Wisconsin in Superior. He received a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He later went on to graduate from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI with a Master of Education degree. On September 4, 1948, he married Valeda Jean Kenward. Kenneth was with the US Army in the Philippines during WWII. He and other GI’s were thankful for the Lord’s sparing them in the war and pledged in a prayer meeting to return to the Philippines after WWII and build a Bible School and Seminary because the one there had been bombed out. He and Valeda sailed on the California Bear freighter 21 days to the Philippines, ending with a storm at sea. At once he began teaching in the new Febias College of Bible, Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Greek, Hermeneutics, Life of Christ and other subjects. On the weekends he let Bible students in nearby areas in evangelism and beginning a church. One man, Mr. Deato, told a student, Mr. Allocod, that he, Mr. Deato had a dream that an American soldier would come teach him how to know the Lord. Kenneth went and told Mr. Deato how Jesus died and rose again so those who believe Him could miss hell and go to heaven. Mr. Deato, as others, repented of his sins, believed and received Christ as Savior, personally. Bible meetings began in his home. Student Virgilio Oberes, Mr. Allocod and others helped teach. After 10 years of prayer for the area, in 1971, Kenneth and Febias student Agapito Bernardo with others went to a tribal group between two mountains. They were the first to preach the Word to those people. Today four cement churches with believers are there. The present President of Febias College of Bible, Dr. Anacleto Carag, first heard the Word then as a boy of 8 years. After 31 years in the Philippines and retirement Kenneth went to Israel yearly. 18 times he went until 2000. One that he taught the Bible in English was a Communist Russian young man, Danny, who also believed in Jesus. Kenneth taught young Filipino workers in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Some of those in Tel Aviv formed a church of Believers for Filipinos and others. In North Dakota, after retirement, Kenneth also taught Filipino Bible Meetings (FBM) but poor heath set in and his wife took over the FBM. He also was very much a part of FBM in Winnipeg, MB and started in Twin Ports, Duluth, MN – Superior, WI area. Green Bay Packers was his favorite team, which everyone knew. However, he missed the first Super Bowl when they won, by being in the Philippines at the time. He was near the TV for the November 4, 2007 Green Bay win, but unable to see it. Everything is better now. He is survived by his wife, Valeda (Kenward) Samuelson; nephews, Thomas Leuma, Michael Leuma, and Donald Broaten; nieces, Jacque Haugen and Valorie Hoffmeister; nephew-in-law Evan Thomas; niece-in-law Esther Estrella; cousin Harvey Halverson; and their spouses, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law, Donald (Frances) Kenward, Richard (Violet) Lee Kenward, James (Eloyce) Kenward and Joe (Mary) Kenward; and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one sister. FUNERAL SERVICE: Saturday, November 17, 2007 at 2:00 PM at Page United Methodist Church, Page, ND. VISITATION: Friday from 6-8 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM at Lindsey-Carlson Funeral Home, Page, ND, and one hour prior to the service at the church. BURIAL: Page Cemetery, Page, ND. Arrangements by the Lindsey Carlson Funeral Home, Page, ND.