Henry W. Behling

How do you take a boy from Boyne City, Mich., 11th of 12 children, out of the farm and put him into the pulpit to preach the truth of the Gospel in not one, but three ministries that started in Victoria, British Columbia, moved to southwestern Minnesota and then ended up in Hot Springs Village, Ark.?

Henry William Behling, 89, was called to his next congregation in Heaven on Sept. 4, 2021.

Born to Harry and Gertrude Behling in 1932, he milked cows, planted potatoes, picked strawberries, drove large trucks and worked in a veneer mill before following his brother into the seminary at Springfield, Ill. After completing seminary, he spent a year in Windsor, Ontario, on vicarage. It was there that he met Barbara Schroeder, who was on vacation. Love was instant; they were married in 1958. His first parish was again in Canada on Vancouver Island, where he served for six years. In 1965, he accepted a call to southern Minnesota and served two congregations for the next 24 years, St. Paul’s in Rost Township and Our Redeemer’s in Okabena. In 1989, Henry again packed up and accepted a unique call to Hot Springs Village, Ark. His first task was to plan and oversee the building of Faith Lutheran Church. He served there for seven years, retiring in 1996. For the next 15 years, he served various churches in the Hot Springs and Little Rock areas.

Barbara has been waiting for him in Heaven for two years. Family missing him here on earth are his five daughters, Anne Stuhr (Jeff), Karen Beyer (Rev. Jon), Valerie Timm (Rev. Bruce), Emily Rogers (Phillip) and Victoria Weber (Mark). Also remembering their Grandpa are 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers are Mark Beyer, Thane Rogers, Ian Rogers, Luke Weber, Jared Timm and Mark Weber.

Visitation will be 10-11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, at Faith Lutheran Church, 1196 Desoto Blvd., Hot Springs Village, Ark. A service of celebration will begin at 11 a.m. with the Revs. Robert Benke, Richard Ames, Jon Beyer and Bruce Timm officiating. The service will be livestreamed through the churches website, https://faithhsv.com/.

Burial will follow at Cedar Vale Cemetery.

Guests may register at http://www.grossfuneralhome. com.