Lester J. Jerry Dacken

Lester Jerry Dacken December 31, 2003 TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Lester Jerry Dacken, 98, of Tahlequah, Okla., died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2003. Lester was born May 28, 1905 at Lone Rock to Frank Christian Dacken and Marie Christina Helgens Dacken. Lester's formal education was sketchy until he began high school at age 19. He soon completed requirements for graduation and then attended Parsons College. During that time he worked both as a laborer and as a night clerk to pay for college. In 1927, he contracted tuberculosis and was hospitalized for 8 years. While in confinement at the sanitarium, Gladys Hall became his wife. Upon discharge from the hospital the couple lived at Mt. Vernon, Iowa and began a dairy farm at Lisbon, Iowa. In 1942, Lester entered Moody's Bible Institute to begin his preparation for the Gospel Ministry. In 1946, he graduated from Wheaton College and entered McCormick Seminary, graduating in 1949. From 1943-1973, he served as pastor at the Yorkfield Prebyterian Church. Following his retirement from the pastoral ministry, he served as assistant director at the Chicago Christian Industrial League and as interim pastor for several churches. In 1976, the Dackens moved to Boyd, Texas, where Lester became the circuit-riding minister for five rural Methodist churches. This continued for 12 years, when at age 83, he retired again. In 1980, Gladys, his wife of 48 years, preceded him in death. In 1981, he married Ruth Hall. In 1988, he and Ruth moved to Go Ye Village where he served on the Board of Directors while also serving on the Board of Directors for Hope House. As a member of the First Prebyterian Church of Tahlequah, Okla., he taught adult Bible Study class for a number of years and served in different capacities with the church. An avid gardener, he shared his harvest with residents of the village until his health made gardening impossible. Funeral services will be Thursday, Jan. 1, at Go Ye Village Chapel in Tahlequah, Okla. Interment will be Jan. 2 at Garvin Methodist Cemetery in Garvin, Texas. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Go Ye Assistance Society Team Evangelical Alliance Mission. Wheaton, ILL, P.O. Box 969, Carol Stream, IL. . Close