Donald Dean Huffmier

Pastor Donald Dean Huffmier, age 92, of Grand Rapids, went to be with his Lord on Thursday, February 22, 2024.
He was born on February 22, 1932 to Ralph and Ruth (Turly) Huffmier in Irving, KS. On June 27, 1954 he married Bonita "Bonnie" Taylor in Willington, KS.
He grew up in Kansas and went to Prairie in 1947 to enter his freshman year in the High School. He graduated in 1952, a year later than normal due to a serious car accident in the summer of 1948. He sang in a high school quartet and played the clarinet in the orchestra. Following high school graduation he entered Bible College and graduated in 1956.
He married Bonita Taylor who also attended Prairie.Together, they have four children, two girls and two boys. She has assisted Don's ministry in teaching, playing the piano and organ.
He received his Master of Theology degree from Bethany Theological Seminary.
After graduation, he was accepted as a maintenance and gratis supervisor at Peace River Bible Institute, Sexsmith, Alberta, where he also was their radio broadcast engineer. Several other duties were also included.
In 1958, they returned to Kansas where he served as assistant to the pastor, Rev. Kenneth Petersen and music director at Calvary Bible Church of Wichita, Kansas, his home church. Then in 1959 he took the call from Calvary Bible Church of Arkansas City, Kansas as their pastor. This is where he began his eighteen year radio ministry, the Calvary Bible Hour. This broadcast included music and Bible messages. This radio ministry continued with his pastorates in Kansas, Illinois, and Wisconsin. In Illinois he was Pastor of the Sutter Salem Bible Church and in Wisconsin the Calvary Bible Church.
In Wisconsin he began another ministry that lasted fifteen years as the editor of "As the Parson Tills It' which was part of the agriculture news paper called the Agri-View. This paper went to every farm in Wisconsin that was forty acres or more. In the annual "Farm Progress Days" a three day convention where they estimated thousands in attendance, he was featured in "Meet the Parson in Person". Many opportunities to share the Lord and the Word were experienced.
In Michigan he served as the Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Okemos.
He served on the faculty of the Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music, Grand Rapids, Michigan as their Academic Director. This gave many opportunities to council churches and boards in the ministry needs, fill pulpits, and speak in conferences. At the school he also taught in several classes.
His last full time pastorate was in Elkridge, Maryland at the Faith Bible Church.
He also served on the board of the Spanish American Bible Mission of New Mexico. He visited and spoke at a New Tribes Mission conference in Venezuela.
Pastor Don is remembered as a faithful husband and father. He loved serving his Lord, his family and being in the ministry. He loved to fly and had obtained his private pilots license. Pastor Don loved to play golf and tennis and also enjoyed hunting.
Pastor Don is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie Huffmier; their children, Elaine (Doug) Schutter, Patsy (Bill) Swem, Daniel (Cynthia) Huffmier, Paul (Lori) Huffmier; brother, Paul (Alisha) Sparks. Several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Ken Huffmier, Gene Huffmier, David Huffmier.
Please share your memories of Pastor Don or sign the guest book online at www.pedersonfuneralhome.com.