Precious Junior Youth Class Sioux Falls, SD with Valeria Wicker May 2024

 

Changing of the Guard: Arthur Keith Schulte January 15, 1933 - December 17, 2024

Arthur Keith Schulte was born two months prematurely on January 15, 1933 in Topeka, Kansas to Arthur and Cora (Gookins) Schulte. He was the youngest of three boys. Keith grew up in Topeka. He entered the Army in 1954 and served in France for 18 months as a sanitation inspector. After returning to Topeka, he met Alberta Martinie, the love of his life, and they were married on May 5, 1957. They had a son, Alan, and a daughter, Terri. Keith worked as a salesman for Proctor & Gamble, and the family lived in a suburb of St. Louis, MO before moving to a very small, rural town in the Ozarks of Missouri where Keith discovered his love of building by renovating an old farmhouse and building a new house. Sadly, Terri passed away in 1978 when she was just 15 as a result of a car-train accident.

In the mid-1980s, Keith and Alberta moved to St. Cloud, MN to be closer to son Alan, daughter-in-law Pat, and three grandchildren. In 1991, Keith took early retirement from Proctor & Gamble, and he and Alberta moved to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada to volunteer at the Maxwell International Baha’i School where Alberta served as a school nurse and Keith was a handyman extraordinaire. In 1993, they moved to Bismarck, ND to be close to Alan, Pat, and grandsons Nathan, Scott, and Ryan. When Alan and his family moved to the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1997, Keith and Alberta were not far behind. They lived in Rapid City from 1998 to 2024 when they moved to Pine Hills Retirement Community in Hot Springs.

Keith was a second generation Baha’i and was actively involved in the Baha’i Faith his entire life. He was quick to share the message of love and unity with everyone he came across. Keith made friends everywhere he went and never met a person he didn’t like. He saw the good in everyone and made everyone feel special and loved.

Keith loved his grandsons dearly and talked often about the fine men they had become. He was delighted that a fourth generation Schulte boy joined the family in March 2024 when great-grandson Wren was born. Keith had photos of Wren taped to almost every available space.

Keith had other loves in his life, including music and good (or not so good; okay – downright cringe worthy) puns. He participated in the Shrine of Democracy Barbershop Chorus for many years and had a joke and a song for every occasion. He thought that everyone could sing and often greeted people that he just met with “where do you sing?”

Keith is survived by his wife Alberta; son Alan and daughter-in-law Pat Schulte of Hot Springs, SD; grandson Nathan Schulte, granddaughter-in-law Kristy Gonyer, and great-grandson Wren of Portland, OR; grandson Scott Schulte and his fiancée Sydney Songstad of Albuquerque, NM; grandson Ryan Schulte of Rapid City, SD; former foster child Tynan Sullivan, and nieces, nephews, and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his daughter Terri, parents Art and Cora, and brothers Don and Bob

Blast from the Past! Wanblee SD 1980s Amos Gibson Project Ed Roberts transportation!

 

2024 Convention in Bismarck, ND

Left to Right: Rosaline Tambe, Barb Kapple, Stephen Crawford, mother Jeannie Crawford, Mia Tambe with Aleta Johnson, Bob Rice waving hands :), Quddus Defender, Frances Allard Abbot and Cheyenne Defender is on the end; 2nd row: Karen Pulkrabek, Phil and Ryan and Emmanuel Arrah. 
 

Photos from one of Audrey Reynold’s books (courtesy Karen Pulkrabeck)

 

Passing of Barbara Bennett 6 Jan 2024

 Memories of Barb from Jaleh Thranow:

Barb and Chuck were very special to us. We met them when kevin and I moved to Rosebud in 2013. (Barb was assistant to the Auxiliary Board.) Shortly after, Barb and Velma asked me to help teach childrens classes to Velma’s grandchildren and great grandchildren. Barb and I taught grade 1 together. The children would be so excited about what they had learned that they would go home and tell Velma. Velma loved this because she loved hearing the quotes and prayers. Barb was an artist and illuminated prayers on cards for the children to memorize including “Blessed is the spot…” She drew colorful flowers and miniature scenes. She never missed a class. Neither did the children. When Barb left I felt lost without her and it wasn’t ever the same. The children really missed her. When she was leaving Rosebud the children found out she needed help packing and we all went over to Barb’s house that day. They had so much fun helping her. Before she left she gave me all her Baha’i books including a full set of Bahai World. She read the books. She loved to read. With Velma every day they would go to the food line where they served lunch in town. Together they tried to teach the Faith to the people there when they could. She and Velma would pray together. Velma loved this time with Barb. She loved to hear Barb reading prayers. Barb’s heart was so pure that her prayers went straight to our hearts. Barb was always trying to be of service to Velma and her family. She tutored Ruhi book 1 with her granddaughter and family and they became Baha’is and registered the children too. One of Velmas sons is an artist and he gave her some of his art as gifts. She had these at her house. Barb and Chuck also hosted some devotionals and feasts at their house. Their house was on Main Street that goes through the center of town. She bought the house from one of the nurses at the town clinic whose family had built the house. It was over 100 years old. One time I called Barb in Iowa. She said she was going to drive to Rosebud to visit me and the children. She was in her 80s! Her car was from the 90. I was speaking with Velma one day and she said to me “The Baha’is are the angels” and she specifically mentioned Barb and Riaz.