Hi,

I'm Joanne. I've been married to Elmer since 1965. We have three married daughters and seven grandchildren. He retired this year from IKON Office Solutions, but I still work part time at the Haven Temporary Shelter.

I was born in Nampa, Idaho. My family moved to Idaho Falls in 1954 where my dad was a mobile tool distributor until 1984. After graduating from Idaho Falls High School,  I attended college at Northwest Nazarene College and Bethany Nazarene College for one year each. By then, Elmer had served almost four years in the U.S. Air Force. We were married in the Nazarene Church that used to be at 3rd Street and Boulevard before the present building was constructed.

I kept coming home to I.F. while Elmer served in Vietnam, Thailand, and Korea. We were also stationed in Colorado, Utah, Germany, Arizona, and Idaho. When he retired from the AF in 1981, we moved back here. He worked in the tool business for several years. For a time, we were both enrolled in programs at Idaho State University and rode the bus to Pocatello together. Our daughters grew up and enjoyed this church's teen group. Some of you sponsored the teens and contributed to their spiritual growth.

The lady you often see at church with me is my mom, Kathryn Beebe. She has had a couple of serious strokes in the past ten years that prevent her from saying the words she wants to say (sometimes). She currently lives at Gables Senior Living in Ammon.

The godly influence of my parents and grandparents encouraged my tender heart. I specifically remember responding to an invitation to receive Christ in a Evangelical Friends Church children's church session. The teacher had just read the Child Evangelism Fellowship story, Barney's Barrel.

At age thirteen, I deliberately committed everything I could to God and asked for his cleansing Spirit to fill me. I was tired of frequently fearing that I had sinned. He did something in me that replaced the rebellion and doubt with courage and a desire to serve Him with all my heart. I'm so thankful for his guidance, protection, and blessings. Even when things aren't going well, He is still caring for us.