Verle Leon Mitchell

Verle Leon Mitchell was born on February 26, 1934, to Albert Louis (Louie) Mitchell and Celesta May Kleinfeldt Mitchell. He grew up on farms in the Central Oregon desert near Bend, Oregon, with his older brother, Adrian, and younger sister, Sandra. Verle loved telling stories of his childhood—working on the farm, riding horses to mountain lakes, playing with his siblings and cousins, and especially about his faithful dog, Laddie.

Verle was an excellent student and a gifted athlete. He played basketball, football, and baseball at Bend High School, serving as quarterback of the football team. He later played semi-professional baseball. After high school, he reconnected with his first-grade classmate, Christine Ryman, when he noticed her walking past the gas station where he worked. He asked her on a date, and their love story began. They married on September 6, 1952, and shared 72 years of marriage until Christine's death in 2025.

Verle and Christine raised five children: Steven, Dawn, Diane, Matthew, and Dorrine. Their son Matthew was born with disabilities resulting from complications during birth. Matt's life became a tremendous blessing to the family and helped shape Verle and Christine's compassion and understanding of people with physical and developmental disabilities.

From his earliest years, Verle felt a call to ministry. As a child, he would play “preacher” in the milkhouse, preaching to the cows and chickens while his sister Sandra pretended to play the organ—a childhood game that proved to be a foreshadowing of his calling. His journey into ministry is described in his memoir, An Unbelievable Journey of Joy in God’s Prevenient Grace.

Verle and Christine began their ministry journey in 1962 when they moved from Bend to Jefferson, Oregon, where Verle served a church while completing his bachelor's degree at Willamette University. He attended seminary at Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, while also pastoring two small churches in Logansport, Indiana. The family resided in Logansport during these years, and fully supported Verle’s call to ministry. Following his graduation from seminary, he served United Methodist churches in Monmouth and McMinnville, Oregon; Meridian, Idaho; Bend, Oregon; and Springfield, Oregon. He also served churches in John Day and Gilchrist during his retirement years.

Verle loved people and easily made friends wherever he went. He enjoyed singing in church choirs, performing solos and duets, and singing with a minister's quartet. He was deeply committed to strengthening relationships among churches and denominations and served with the UMC Walk to Emmaus ministry. He was also involved in the planning and development of several church building projects, humbly taking pride in helping create places where people could worship and gather.

People were always welcome at Verle and Chris’s house. Whether it was hosting their kids’ friends, or folks from church, or neighbors down the street, they loved having company and inviting people over for meals. Somehow, there was always enough to eat!

The gift of hospitality extended to foster children, foreign exchange students, and a refugee family from Laos. One foster daughter, Diane Badillo, became a regular member of the family, living with the Mitchells for four years. Solveig Brekke from Norway continued to keep in touch with Verle and Chris from the time she lived with them in 1984-85 until the present day. With the help of Chris and Verle, Deng and Souphatta Chongphaisane and their family built a new life in America following their escape from Laos after the Viet Nam war. When Verle and Chris returned to Meridian in 2013, Deng insisted on taking care of their yard, free of charge, until they moved to assisted living in 2024.

Family continued to be central to Verle's life following his retirement in 1996. He and Christine enjoyed camping with family along the Oregon coast and in the mountains of Oregon and Idaho. He loved taking his grandchildren fishing, riding bikes with Chris and Matt, working in his yard and garden, feeding the birds and squirrels, roasting hot dogs, and singing around the campfire.

After Matt's death in 2013, Verle and Christine moved from their beloved home in Bend back to Meridian to be closer to their daughters and their families. They spent their later years at Grace Assisted Living, where their family and caregivers surrounded them with love and support.

Christine passed away on February 28, 2025. Verle deeply missed his beloved wife, but continued to trust in the God whose grace had guided him throughout his life. Verle passed away peacefully on September 23, 2026. In the weeks before his death, all his children were able to spend time with him, and during his final six nights, his daughters took turns staying beside him so he would not be alone.

Verle's children take comfort in knowing that his final battle on earth is over and that he is now in the presence of the Lord, reunited with his beloved Christine and their son, Matt. What a joyful reunion it must be.

Verle is survived by his children, Steve (Christine), Dawn (Evan), Diane (Bill), and Dorrine (Mark); 17 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren, with another due in spring 2027; 6 great-great-grandchildren, with two more due in 2027; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louie and Celesta; his brother, Adrian; his sister, Sandra; his infant twin sisters, Gwen and Dawn; his wife, Christine; his son, Matt; and his granddaughters, Lavina Bowers and Janna Smith Fornelli.

Verle's life was a testimony to God's prevenient grace—His grace that goes before us, guides us, and provides for us along the way. May we remember Verle's example of trusting God and His plans for our lives, and may we remain attentive to His guidance.

“The final chapter of God's prevenient grace over Verle Mitchell's life.”

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 10:30 AM at the Meridian United Methodist Church. Inurnment will take place at the Tumalo Pioneer Cemetery in Tumalo, OR, at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Meridian United Methodist Church or to a charity of one's choice.