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m. 24 Jun 1935 - Chester Richard Sinnema1937 - 2004
Facts and Events
References
- ↑ .
- ↑ Bozeman Daily Chronicle (MT) - November 3, 2004
Chester Richard Sinnema, 67, of Manhattan went to be with his Lord on Oct. 31, 2004, after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born Sept. 7, 1937, in Bozeman to George T. and Dora (Westra) Sinnema. He attended Little Holland School and received his GED while serving in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1956-1964. He married Margaret Visser on June 15, 1961, in First Manhattan Christian Reformed Church. He farmed and ranched his whole life, first with his father and brother-in-law and then with his son, Brent. Chester enjoyed the cattle business, especially the roundups and cattle drives with family and friends.
As a child, Chester was fascinated with poems that rhymed. He loved to write and would share that talent with others, and continued writing until the end.
He was a charter member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church. He had a deep love and commitment to the Lord and his church where he served as deacon and elder. For 23 years, Chester was active in the Cadet program where he led boys by his Christian example. He also felt called to minister to the inmates at Montana State prison. Over the years, Chester served on many different boards, including Darigold board of directors, Manhattan Christian School board, Amsterdam fire board, and the Churchill Retirement Home, where he visited with the residents weekly. He was also a member of the Gallatin County Beef producers and Montana Stockgrowers.
He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant nephew. Chester is survived by his wife of 43 years, Margaret; son, Brent (Kimberly) Sinnema of Manhattan; daughters, Faith (Jeffrey) Dyksterhouse of Manhattan, Nicole (Kelly) Alberda of Austin, Texas; sisters, Frances (Dick C.) Flikkema of Manhattan, and Josephine (Adrian) Gunst of Renton, Wash. He is also survived by ten grandchildren: Reuben, Caleb, Joshua and Jabin Sinnema; Chase, Skyler, Bryce and Parker Dyksterhouse; Chandler and Addison Alberda. Grandpa always had time for exploring, four-wheeler rides, or reading a book.
The Waiting Room
Because of certain circumstances in our lives
We find ourselves in the Master's waiting room.
We're there praying for a miracle
And praying it will happen soon.
Perhaps we find our health is failing
Or maybe a loved one has took sick.
Or one we love has wandered far from God
Or has some dreaded addiction they can't lick.
So you find you're in God's waiting room,
The only thing that's left is prayer.
You've poured out your heart and soul to Him,
You're in most thoughts with Him to share.
So now you're waiting for His answer,
There's time to pause and to reflect.
Sometimes the answer's slow in coming,
You're wondering just what to expect.
When you find yourself in this position
And reflect on events and things gone by,
You'll find many things you wish you could do over
But it's too late for that -- no use to try.
You'll find few people in God's waiting room
That wish they'd sought harder after worldly goods,
And spent less time on family things
Or helping others when they could.
Few there wish they'd spent more Sunday evenings
Watching sports on the TV,
Instead of gathering with God's people
And hear His words, to seek and see.
When you're waiting in His waiting room,
The things of earth grow strangely dim.
The unimportant things have been pushed aside;
You wish you had spent more time with Him.
You wonder why it seemed important
To do more work on God's rest day,
Instead of spending time with Him
In song and praise, take time to pray.
Sometimes within God's waiting room
You'll find that life really is quite short;
So it's best to focus on important things
Before we're standing in His court.
Since we only have one life to live,
Time should be spent in gratitude and praise.
He is the Way, He's paid the price,
In love our grateful hearts we raise.
Chet Sinnema
Interment will be in Hills Cemetery at 10:15 a.m. Friday, Nov. 5. Memorial services will follow at 11 a.m. at Bethel Christian Reformed Church.
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