Meyer was born May 15, 1913, in Chicago. He and a friend put together a song and dance act and performed around the Chicago area. Following his conversion, he gave up performing to attend Moody Bible Institute.

During the Depression he enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and served with the Forest Service near Medford, Ore. A co-worker invited him to the Medford Corps, where he became a soldier and then the young people’s sergeant-major. He met Dianna Hammond at the corps, and they wed in 1937.

The couple served as envoys for five years, ministering in Baker and Astoria, Ore. In January 1954, they entered the School for Officer Training in San Francisco as members of the Shepherds Session and were commissioned that June. Their first appointment was to the Caldwell (Idaho) Corps, followed by assignments at Wenatchee, Wash., and Pomona, Calif. Meyer also served in the finance department at territorial headquarters and was administrator of the Oakland and Sacramento adult rehabilitation centers (ARC). His last appointment was as general secretary in the ARC Command.

The Meyers retired to San Francisco, where Ben Meyer worked as an associate in an accounting firm for 15 years. He was a lifelong Kiwanis member, serving three terms as president and receiving an award for more than 50 years of attendance.

Meyer is survived by his wife, Dianna, and his daughter, Major Benia Meyer. Lt. Sean O’Brien conducted a chapel service at Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma, Calif., on April 3, and Commissioner Kenneth Hood brought the message.

Lenore Butler, born Sept. 20, 1920, to a devout Quaker family, was playing piano at worship services by age 11. She earned bachelor’s degrees in both religion and music. When she married Cedric Morris, a Salvationist from the Portland Citadel Corps, she too became a Salvationist, learning to play trombone so she could join him in the corps band. Wherever they went, they provided music—in the band, at the piano and organ, or in the songsters.

The couple moved to Santa Monica, where Johnson played piano and organ at the Santa Monica Corps for over 50 years.

Johnson worked as treasurer at the Pasadena Tabernacle Corps and then, starting in 1961, as bookkeeper at the Santa Monica Adult Rehabilitation Center. Into her 90s she drove people to the corps and other events, taught crafts at vacation Bible school, visited rest homes and led Home League meetings. She was a faithful soldier and prayer warrior.

Morris was promoted to Glory in 1978, and Johnson later married Randall Johnson, who died in 1987.

Johnson is survived by daughters Emily (Cyrus) Damania and Louise (Gary) Foster, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Captain Mario Ruiz conducted a celebration of life at the Santa Monica Corps on Feb. 16.

Joe Hoogstad, Sr.,

Hoogstad was born Jan. 26, 1925, in Spokane, the fourth of eight children of Karel and Marie Hoogstad. He married Maude Miller in 1943. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy for three years. After his military service, he resumed work in the meat industry, eventually finishing his career at S & P Foods.

Excelling in both instrumental and vocal music, Hoogstad served for decades using these talents in various ways and mentoring others.

Hoogstad is survived by his wife, Maude, and seven children: Major Joe (Eileen) Hoogstad, Terry (Beverly) Hoogstad, Dan (Char) Hoogstad, Pam (Barry) Bean, Kirk (Anice) Hoogstad, Darleen (George) White, and Jan (Carrie) Hoogstad, 19 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Great-granddaughter Cadet Sarah Ward is currently training for officership at Crestmont.

Captain Kyle Smith officiated at a memorial service at the Spokane Citadel Corps.

Jackson was born May 24, 1934, in Kake, Alaska, and graduated from Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska, in 1954. He married Gertrude Louise (Lidda) Paddock in 1951; together they had five children and raised the family in Kake. He was a lifelong commercial and subsistence fisherman and also ran his own store.

While living in Sitka, Jackson was involved in the Alaska Native claims movement in the 1960s as a member of the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. He also served as president of the council from 1972-76. In 1972, he signed the articles of incorporation for Sealaska, the regional native corporation for Southeast Alaska, created under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. He was the only board member to serve continuously since the company was founded.

Jackson served as a trustee for the Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) from its creation in 1980 and as chair of its Council of Traditional Knowledge, a panel of elders and clan leaders who guide SHI’s programs. He also served on the Board of Advisors for Sheldon Jackson College and on the Fisheries Advisory Board for the Kake area.

In the 1960s and 70s, Jackson led The Salvation Army’s Kake Songsters. During those years, the songsters often performed at the Alaska Congress and took gospel trips to other southeast communities. Although he became a Salvation Army soldier many years ago, during the 2011 Alaska Congress, he stood with his wife as Commissioner James Knaggs enrolled them as senior soldiers.

Jackson was known for his vast knowledge of the Tlingit language, history and culture. He spoke fluent Tlingit and loved talking with the elders about history, clan origins and customs.

Through the years he was generous in giving material and monetary donations to The Salvation Army’s ministry in Kake, the Alaska Division, and to World Services, encouraging others to also support the Army.

Jackson is survived by his wife, Lidda, and by children Clarence, Jr., Leisa Molfetas, Jeffery and Dale. His son John preceded him in death. He has two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Major George Baker preached at memorial services in Kake and Juneau. A cultural ceremony was also held.

Francis Ragland was born Dec. 4, 1936, in Gillette, Wyo. His father died while Ragland and his four siblings were still young. His mother remarried, and the family moved to Boise, Idaho, where he was introduced to The Salvation Army.

After graduating from high school, Ragland joined the U.S. Air Force and served overseas during the Korean conflict. Returning to Boise after the war, he began working at the U.S. Post Office and reconnected with The Salvation Army. In Boise he met Eleanor Ratcliff, and they married in 1961.

The Raglands entered The Salvation Army training school in San Francisco as part of the Evangelists Session and were commissioned in 1969. Over the years, they were appointed as corps officers at Hanford, Calif.; Flagstaff, Ariz.; Las Vegas, Nev.; and Butte, Mont.

In 1984, they were assigned to Alaska where they opened the South Anchorage Corps and later the Kenai Peninsula Corps. They also opened the corps in Laramie, Wyo. Their final appointment was as administrators of the Silvercrest Senior Residence in Stockton, Calif., before retiring in 2000.

The couple made their retirement home in Stockton, where Francis Ragland participated in the Stockton Kiwanis Club in a variety of leadership positions, including Lt. Governor for the Stockton district of Kiwanis twice.

Ragland is survived by his wife and children, Michael (Jenni) Ragland and Ruth (John) Cunningham; five grandchildren; brother Eugene; and half-brother Gerald Coatney.

Commissioner Kenneth Hood conducted the funeral service at the Evergreen Chapel in Lodi, Calif.

David Royal Allen was born July 13, 1929, in Mt. Vernon, Wash., the son of Captains John and Amy Allen. While his parents served in Santa Ana, Calif., David attended Santa Ana High School and Santa Ana Junior College, and served in the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1951 he entered The Salvation Army training college in San Francisco and was commissioned with the Intercessors Session in 1952. He met future wife, Lois Enscoe, in training and they wed in 1955.

Following two corps appointments in San Diego and Oxnard, Calif., Allen began his ministry in the Men’s Social Service Department, later named the Adult Rehabilitation Centers (ARC) Command. He served as a trainee at the San Francisco ARC and then as administrator in Honolulu; Portland, Ore.; and Sacramento and Oakland, Calif. The Allens spent 11 years in Oakland and were responsible for the construction of a new building.

Allen also served as Northwest divisional secretary and at the College for Officer Training at Crestmont. In 1982, he was promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel and appointed as commander of the Western Territory Adult Rehabilitation Centers Command, where he remained for 12 years, until his retirement in 1994.

The Allens made their retirement home in Menifee, Calif., where Lois worked at the Perris ARC as an addiction counselor and David traveled about the territory consulting on new thrift stores, buildings and ARC projects. Lois Allen was promoted to Glory in 2010.

Allen is survived by his children, John, Denise, Sharon and David, Jr., and eight grandchildren.

Lt. Colonel Ron Strickland officiated at a service at the Perris ARC, and Major Jack Phillips gave the message.

General John Gowans (Ret.), 78, was promoted to Glory from a nursing home in South London Dec. 8, 2012, after a long period of declining health.

Gowans, The Salvation Army’s international leader from 1999 to 2002, will be remembered for his unique, colorful and larger-than-life personality.

“When God made John Gowans he threw away the mold,” wrote General John Larsson (Ret.) in his foreword to Gowans’s autobiography. “Into the gift-mix of this original he poured the potential of an unconventional thinker, an arresting speaker and a charismatic leader. He added the dynamism of a man of action and the creativity of a poet, the ruggedness of an Elijah and the spiritual sensitivity of a John the Beloved. And he topped it all with a large dollop of humanity!”

These qualities marked his term of office as General. Gowans was passionate about the Army’s fundamental mission, memorably defining it as “saving souls, growing saints and serving suffering humanity.” He boldly reformed the conditions of service for officers, in the process surveying every officer in the world. He markedly widened the advisory circle to the General by creating the General’s Consultative Council. He unfailingly challenged his hearers around the world through messages that were vivid, pointed and prophetic. No one present at the International Millennial Congress 2000 held in Atlanta will ever forget the impact of his inspired preaching on that occasion.

Gowans leaves a priceless legacy of more than 200 songs he wrote, many originating in the 10 musicals he co-authored with Larsson. His ministry will also live on through the three books of prayer poems he wrote under the title “O Lord,” which reveal his gifts of insight, warmth and humor. In retirement, Gowans influenced thousands by authoring “Words of Life” for several years.

Gowans was born in Blantyre, Scotland, on Nov. 13, 1934, of officer parents. He entered the International Training College, London, in 1954 as a cadet of the Soulwinners Session. There he met Cadet Gisèle Bonhotal, who had entered training from Paris, and they married in 1957. They have two sons, John-Marc and Christophe, and four grandchildren.

John and Gisèle Gowans served as corps officers in the then British Territory for 16 years, held administrative appointments in their home territory and also in the USA Western Territory, and were divisional leaders in both of these territories. They served for 11 years in France, in time becoming the territorial leaders. This was followed by territorial leadership of the Australia Eastern and U.K. territories.

The Thanksgiving Service for his life and ministry took place Dec. 14, 2012, at William Booth College in London, with General John Larsson (Ret.) presiding over a gathering of more than 450 people. The congregation included General Linda Bond and General Shaw Clifton (Ret.), along with leaders from International Headquarters.

Read tributes to Gowans by many of these Army leaders in the enclosed four-page insert.

Commissioner Wilma Smith

Wilma Deloris Cherry was born in Omaha, Neb., March 17, 1918.

She entered the School for Officer Training and was commissioned in 1937 with the Guardians of the Covenant Session. Her first appointment as a probationary lieutenant was to assist at the Pacific Grove (Calif.) Corps. A year later she was sent to assist at the Hayward (Calif.) Corps.

In August 1939, Lieutenant Wilma Cherry and Captain Lawrence Smith were married. The Smiths served five years in Hawaii before and during World War II. During this time, they served in corps, specialized children’s work, and then as directors of The Salvation Army United Service Organization (USO), responsible for opening and operating a USO club in Wahiawa, Oahu, for servicemen from nearby military installations. While in Hawaii their first son, Michael Lawrence, was born.

Returning to the mainland in 1944, the Smith’s were appointed as corps officers at San Jose, Calif., where their second son, Brian Charles, was born. They served as directors of The Salvation Army Children’s Home in Lytton, Calif.  Two years on the faculty of the Army’s training school in San Francisco followed, and in 1954 they were appointed to the Northern California and Nevada Division, where Wilma Smith served as the divisional assistant Home League secretary. Their promotion to major came during this time. In 1962, the Smiths were transferred to Western Territorial Headquarters, where Wilma Smith served as the official visitor for retired officers, and they were promoted to brigadier.

In 1966, Wilma Smith was appointed as the territorial nurses’ fellowship secretary and a year later, the territorial League of Mercy secretary with promotion to the rank of lt. colonel. The Smiths were promoted to colonel and assigned to International Headquarters where Wilma Smith was responsible for the Long Service Order and the Order of the Silver Star.

The Smiths returned to the West in June 1975, where Wilma Smith served as the territorial Home League secretary. In 1978, they were assigned to New Zealand where Commissioner Lawrence Smith was territorial commander and Commissioner Wilma Smith was territorial president of women’s organizations. In January 1980, Lawrence Smith was appointed the territorial commander for the USA Western Territory and Wilma Smith was named territorial president of women’s organizations.

Since retirement in 1982, Commissioner Wilma Smith lived in Rancho Palos Verdes and Redondo Beach, Calif. She was a faithful soldier and prayer warrior at the Torrance Corps.

Smith is survived by her son, Brian; daughter-in-law, Eileen (wife of Michael); three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Her husband, Lawrence, and son, Michael, preceded her in death.

A memorial service will be held in January 2013.

Gene Rice was born May 27, 1919, in Chelsea, Okla. He was raised in the local Southern Baptist Church where he accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. He graduated from Chelsea High School in 1937.

After graduation, he hitchhiked to Portland, Ore., to visit his older brother and sister-in-law, Captains Don and Ruby Rice, corps officers at the Portland St. John Corps. They had received a new appointment to Pocatello, Idaho, and invited Gene Rice to come with them and help with the youth work.

While at youth councils in 1938, he felt the call of God to become a Salvation Army officer. He joined the 1938-39 Dauntless Evangelist Session of cadets at the Training College in San Francisco.

Upon being commissioned a probationary lieutenant, Rice was assigned to the staff of the college as men’s side officer. There he met Captain Hazel Stevens, and they wed in 1942. Their first appointment together was as corps officers at Eureka, Calif., where their first three children—Steven, Marvin and Sandra—were born.

In 1948, their next assignment was to Bakersfield, Calif., where their youngest child, Sharon, was born. During this appointment, Rice undertook the fundraising to purchase property and construct a new corps building; it was completed and dedicated in 1951.

Rice’s further appointments were as Southern California divisional youth secretary; Los Angeles Congress Hall corps officer; Northern California and Nevada divisional secretary; School for Officers’ Training, San Francisco, general secretary; Southern California divisional secretary; and Southwest divisional commander. In 1969, he was appointed field secretary for the Western Territory, serving as such until 1975. He transitioned to Southern California divisional commander from 1975-1981. In 1981, he became principal of the School for Officers’ Training, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. The Rices’ final appointment was as Western territorial evangelists from 1983-1984. They retired in June 1984.

During his career, Rice received a number of recognitions. As corps officer at Congress Hall he completed a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from the University of Southern California. He attended the Brengle Institute in Chicago and the International College for Officers in London. In 1973, National Headquarters designated him The Salvation Army’s national representative to the World Congress on Evangelism in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 2004 The Salvation Army gave Rice its highest recognition for extraordinary service, the Order of the Founder.

In retirement the Rices lived in Hamilton City, Calif., and were active soldiers of the Chico Corps. Gene Rice enjoyed taking War Cry to the California State University Chico campus to meet students and faculty and to share the love of Jesus. He enjoyed people and had an incredible memory for names. He will be remembered for his faithfulness in following up with people who otherwise might have been forgotten.

Failing health caused the Rices to move to Washington where their son, Marvin, and his wife could supervise their care. Hazel Rice was promoted to Glory in 2007.

In 2010, the Western Territory, then under the leadership of Commissioner Philip Swyers, honored Lt. Colonels Gene and Hazel Rice for their lives of loving service by naming the chapel on the campus of the College for Officer Training at Crestmont as the Eugene and Hazel Rice Memorial Chapel.

Lt. Colonel Gene Rice is survived by his children Steven (Connie), Marvin (Angela), Sandra (Dick) David, and Sharon (Jim) McCann, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Commissioner James Knaggs  and Commissioner Joe Noland officiated at a memorial service at Crestmont on Nov. 10.

Major Kay Kortstra

Kay Hofman was born Sept. 24, 1923, to Geertje and Willim Hofman in Groningen, Holland. She became acquainted with The Salvation Army at the age of 12 when she attended an open-air meeting.

Hofman married Ralph Kortstra and the couple emigrated to the United States in 1949, coming in through Ellis Island in New York. For a time, they made their home in Schenectady, N.Y., where their oldest daughter, Francina, was born. In 1953, they moved to California, first living in Ontario and then in Long Beach, where their second daughter, Jane, was born. In 1956, they moved to San Francisco to enter the College for Officer Training. As members of the Faithful Session, the Kortstras were commissioned as 2nd lieutenants in 1957.

Appointments followed in Redlands, Santa Barbara, Stockton, Marysville and Hanford, Calif.; and Portland Citadel and La Grande, Ore. After a break in service, Kortstra was appointed as a single officer to Merced, Calif., in 1980. She then served at the College for Officer Training in Special Services, at the Door of Hope in San Diego and as associate corps officer at San Diego Citadel. She retired in 1988.

Kortstra is survived by daughters Major Francina (Dan) Proctor of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Jane Kortstra of San Diego; two granddaughters, Kally (Luis) Juarez of Oklahoma City and Kaylene (Mark) Baker of Abilene, Texas; and great-grandson Joshua Daniel Juarez.

A service of celebration was held Oct. 28 at the El Cajon (Calif.) Corps. Major Dan Proctor and Corps Officer Captain Terry Masango officiated.