Art Spenst, humble servant of Christ
My family is raising up warm tributes to my brother-in-law Art, who recently entered heaven from his sleep.[1] Mine is added here with deep gratitude to God for this humble and gentle man with a patient, quiet manner – so much like that of his Savior, Jesus Christ. The memories of him also flood in, and I’d like to share some that have helped shape me into the man I am today.
The Checkers Joker
One of my earliest fun memories is of Art and my dad playing checkers. They were extremely competitive but not as Art and Frank. They were always Ole and Sven. My brothers and I thought it was a great joke. That memory gives me such deep joy because I remember Art giving my dad great laughter when otherwise life was so hard on the N. Dak. prairie.
Blizzard Rescuer
And then there was the blizzard rescue in ’61. I was 11, my brother Don was 9, and youngest brother Darrel was 7. The wind was blowing, and a light snow had been falling. Dad decided to take the school bus he drove out towards evening to check his run for the following morning (there were no “snow days” for ND schools at the time and it was up to teachers and bus drivers as to whether school would happen).
He made a decision he regretted for the rest of his life in agreeing to take us boys with him. We were about five miles from home when the blizzard hit. As dad frantically turned toward home the drifting of now heavy snow began to block the roads. About 2½ miles from home we were stuck, and it was now dark. In the sparsely populated farmland, with nobody knowing we were out except mom, he made the decision to walk home. I was given charge of Darrel, and he took Don. He told me that I needed to keep my little brother warm somehow and not lose sight of his back.
It was the toughest walk I made as a kid. Darrel was beginning to cry and we all feared freezing to death before reaching home. But for Art, we might have. About a mile from home Dad shouted back to us that he saw a light ahead. And sure enough, here came Art on his tractor through the snow. What laughter we shared with our rescuing hero sitting close to the kitchen stove and drinking hot chocolate.
Driving Instructor
It was Art who taught me to drive. I had turned 13 and the next spring started working for him on the Farm. But soon it was evident to him that I needed to be taught how to drive so he began to patiently teach me with his pickup. It was the spring of ’64 and with me driving, we headed out across the lake toward the Grafton Cutoff. What Art didn’t know is that the county had recently stripped the road in preparation for a new chip seal. And what was exposed was the clay bed — very slippery in the rain. Well, I didn’t know better, and Art wasn’t paying attention to road surfaces as I turned on to that slipperiness. “Don’t stop!,” he yelled at me as we began sliding from side to side. “Try to stay in the middle of the road!” He knew that if we could make it a mile there’d be another road we could take. To this day, I count my lifetime record of safe driving to my teacher, Art Spenst.
Generous Family Man
The summer I turned 15 I moved in with Art and Pauline so that I could be Art’s “hired man.” The first thing I remember is that I was instantly a full-fledged member of the family and given a cot in the back room as it was before the kitchen reno.
Even now I hear my sister Pauline and Art in the kitchen talking about the difficult challenges of family life and farm management. They never failed to turn out the lights without ending those discussions in prayer.
Humble Farmer Extraordinaire
What other North Dakota farmer could be driving along, slam on the brakes and bean a skunk on the run with a rock?
What other farmer could quietly and humbly keep old machinery running while other family members had the brightest and best? What other farmer could scale a pasture tree faster—when a mad Holstein cow protecting her young was on the rampage?
What other farmer would so easily allow a non-mechanic boy named David to drive his newest tractor to the back quarter to do spring plowing?
What other farmer would love to be the first to the garden hose after coming in from haying at midnight and with laughter turn it full blast on his unsuspecting “hired hand” David?
As I sat beside Art outside his Plainview home gazing at the surrounding fields in the last years and then later talking on the phone, it was always the Farm and Family that occupied our thoughts and few words.
Loving, Faithful Husband
My beloved sister Pauline had the most amazing husband. When we would talk privately in the later years concerning his caregiving for her, Art would speak of the deep weariness of his soul and body.
And then he’d share his deeper sorrow at seeing his lover suffer so. With a shared sigh, we would remember together that Christ is our sufficiency. Later, when I picked up caregiving for my wife Julia, his quiet and constant care for Pauline was a beacon for me.
Grieving now, but so deeply thankful
How I thank God for Art Spenst. He hugely impacted my life, and it was all for good. How beautiful the way our Lord works all things together for good. I’m so thankful my brother went to sleep in Jesus. I wonder if in glory we’ll play checkers.
David Ewert
Pictures to enjoy
Other Family Tributes
Hannah Callahan (granddaughter) | Facebook, December 5
My sweet, precious Grandpa is home with Jesus ❤️
Our hearts are aching, but we are rejoicing greatly at his entrance into eternal rest with His beloved Savior. Well done, good & faithful servant!! Enter into the joy of your Master 🙌
Grandpa, I want to be more like you in every way. You are a treasure 😍 You were the most tender-hearted, gracious man who loved Jesus with all your heart!! You ran your race faithfully to the end!! You are a constant inspiration & encouragement to me in a life lived wholeheartedly in service to King Jesus 😭🙌 I’m so overwhelmed with gratitude for your deep love for Jesus, your tender love for your family, your gentleness, humility, godliness, & faithfulness!!
Thank you for treasuring Jesus & loving us so well!! 😭 we miss you so deeply, but we are rejoicing that you’re home with our precious Lord & reunited with Grandma & uncle Jimmy, celebrating Christmas with Jesus. Benjamin & I love you so so deeply ❤️
I’m so overwhelmed with gratitude for the Lord’s kindness toward me in sovereignly allowing me to have a sweet visit with him the last time he came to MN 2 years ago, though I didn’t know then that it would be the last time. Oh Jesus, you are so faithful & gracious. Thank you for the tenderness of your presence & your steadfast love
Todd Mask (son-in-law) | Facebook, December 7
Bonnie’s dad was the one of the most Godly men I have ever met! He was truly an example of what is a servant. He truly lived serving others and He trusted God to give him what He needed to get through each day. He did all His work with excellence as if for the Lord himself! His farm fields were beautiful and weed free. I remember when his wife Pauline was in the hospital that a new nurse would come in to care for her and was having trouble and he would kindly offer to show her the easiest and best way to do what needed to be done. The next day that nurse brought 3 other nurses in with her and asked him if he would show these nurses how he did it again. He kindly did it again patiently explaining each step. Bonnie’s mom had MS for over 50 years and was wheelchair bound for over 30 of those years. It was a long rough road. Despite his own health issues, he was her sole caregiver until the last 2 years of her life. It was a road of sacrifice and suffering but I never heard him complain. I’m reminded of these words Jesus told His disciples, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” Mark 10:42-45 ESV
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