Philip Palser

Philip V. Palser, "Pastor," entered into his eternal reward, December 10, holding the hand of his beloved wife, Vicki. He was 98.

Born May 18, 1925, in Big Springs, Nebraska, to parents Edgar and Alice (Wood) Palser, Pastor grew up on the family farm in very humble settings. Those settings would become far more humble as the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl converged on their farm and surrounding region. Having his father pass away from leukemia when Philip was just a toddler, life on the farm was very difficult, but somehow, his mother, with the help of her sons and daughter, was able to keep the farm while most other farms went to weeds and foreclosure.

Not being "fully honest" about his age, Philip, then 17, joined the Navy with his cousin, Everette (Helen) Palser, and would proudly serve in the Navy during WWII with an overseas deployment to the Far East for 18 months. He was honorably discharged when the war ended, earning the Philippines' Liberation Medal. Returning home to western Nebraska, he would would marry his high school sweetheart, Vicki Pappas, 2 weeks later. He then re-enrolled at Southwestern Bible College to finish his seminary degree and then began his first pastorate in Duncanville, Texas, while still attending school. In time, the Palsers would welcome three children: Philip (Marlene), Joel (Rhonda), and Kimberly (Thomas). They were the proud grandparents to multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Pastor Palser would later pastor churches in Grand Forks, N. Dakota, and Bethel Church in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The pastorate in Eau Claire would last several decades with countless scores of people being born again under his ministry. He would go on to establish Bethel Christian School (K-12) in 1975, which continues in operations to this day.

Pastor was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar and Alice, and brothers Dwight (Lois) and Dale (Louise) and his only sister, Evelyn (Alvin) Leef. He's survived by his wife of 77 years, Victorine.

A celebration of life service, with military honors, will be held in the spring of 2024 at Bethel Church in Eau Claire. Please check the Bethel Church Facebook page as springtime draws closer for a definitive date.