Fred Carl Reusser, son of Alexander and Lizette Reusser, was born at the family's farm home on Cooper Mountain, southwest of Beaverton, Oregon, on November 15, 1896.   His parents had come from Switzerland to America, where they met in Oregon and were married here.

     Fred Reusser completed elementary school at the Cooper Mountain Grade School.   He finished high school at Kinton, after which, he went through Normal School at Monmouth, Oregon, preparing to be a teacher.   He then taught school for some time at Hebo, Oregon, where he became acquainted with his future wife.

     During World War I, Fred Reusser entered the army, where he became a bugler.   Immediately after the war, on December 25th, 1918, he was married to Miss Etta Wilson, daughter of Joe and Belle Wilson of Cloverdale, Oregon.

     Fred Reusser had been saved as a boy in an Evangelical Church near Beaverton, but on February 12, 1922, he was baptized by Elder J. T. Moore into the Cloverdale Baptist Church.   He had already felt called to preach, and on March 11th, 1922, the Cloverdale Baptist Church licensed him to preach the gospel.

     In 1923, Elder J.T. Moore left Cloverdale to do mission work in Portland, and in September Fred Reusser became pastor of the Cloverdale Baptist Church; however, he was not ordained until March 4, 1924.

     Fred Reusser pastored the Cloverdale Baptist Church until September, 1926, when he went to Los Angeles to enter a Baptist Seminary.   While there, he pastored the Lynwood Baptist Church, Lynwood, California.

     About 1934, Elder Fred Reusser and family returned to the farm at Cloverdale, Oregon, and here he again became pastor of Cloverdale Baptist Church in September, 1936.   He pastored this church until August 1939, when he became pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon.   He had already been driving into Portland to teach in the Bible Institute, and now much of the responsibility of that school had fallen upon him.

     With the beginning of the Second World War, attendance fell off, so the Bible Institute did not open in September, 1942.   Elder Reusser pastored Antioch Missionary Baptist Church until June, 1944.

     As a member of the Merchant Marines, Elder Fred Reusser then worked as a cook on board ship, and preached the gospel to the sailors.   Unlike the Navy, the Merchant Marines had no chaplains.   By this means, he was able to minister to them.   Later he became pastor of a newly organized Baptist Church at Port Orchard, Washington.

     In September, 1952, Fred Reusser returned to Cloverdale to pastor there for a third time, and continued to pastor there until the time of his death, on April 30th, 1955.   This came suddenly in the midst of plans for a revival meeting.

     Elder and Sister Reusser had four children; Kenneth, born in January, 1920; Betty, born in March, 1923; Carl, born in January, 1926; and Bob, born in May, 1931.

     As a member of the Airforce, Kenneth greatly distinguished himself for bravery during World War II and also in Vietnam.   He is now retired.   Betty is now Mrs. Frank Vuylsteke and lives in Seattle, Washington, where she teaches school.   Carl also lives in Seattle, Washington.   Bob passed away in February, 1975.

     Sister Etta Reusser returned to their home in Portland, Oregon, where she went to be with the Lord in November, 1970.   Both Elder and Sister Reusser were dearly beloved by many who knew them, and they are greatly missed.   He was a big hearted man, who loved to expound the scriptures.

     NOTE:   This article was originally printed in "Landmarks" March / April of 1977.   The facts were current at that time.

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