Dr. Evans Nelson

    Evans Nelson was born in Los Angles on September 5, 1922.  He attended High School at Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington.  He was baptized at Temple on January 31, 1934 and received into the church membership on February 4, 1934.

    Evans was elected Christian Youth for Christ President the first time in 1942.  He served as the 22nd, (1942) and 28th,  (1950), presidents of the Columbia Youth Fellowship (CYF, formerly Baptist Young Peoples Union). [see 75 Years, p. 233]   Dr. Nelson was on a conference-wide committee of former CYF presidents that decided, in 1957, to create the position of "Christian Education and Youth Director" for the Columbia Conference.  He was a bright young man receiving the Bausch and Lomb Science Award when he graduated from High School about 1940.   Later he graduated from the University of Oregon Dental School with honors being admitted to the national honorary dental fraternity, Omicron Kappa Upsilon.  While serving in the Navy during the Second World War, he spent a year in Japan, as Chief of the Dental Service in a station hospital.  After he returned from the year in Japan, Dr. Nelson presented the work in Japan by Baptist General Conference missionaries to conference churches on the West Coast.  On April 22, 1949, Evans married Marilyn Walker. She was of Scotch and Irish background but was warmly welcomed into the Swedish Salstrom family.    

     Besides devoting much of his spare time to the Lord's work at Temple, Evans took part in the planning and development of Lake Retreat.  He was a member of the Columbia Baptist Conference Board of Trustees that decided, in May 1946, to purchase the Raymer Resort on the south shore of Lake Retreat for $25,000.  In 1957 when the Baptist General Conference held its annual meeting in Portland, Dr. Nelson served as the housing chairman.  He helped design the Linus Johnson Lodge at Lake Retreat in the late 1950's and he started the annual tradition of a Memorial Day work weekend.  He was the 7th president of the "Columbia Brotherhood" (about 1960). [See 75 Years. p.227]  He started, along with Marilyn, the annual fall CYF rallies to supplement the spring rallies. In 1964, was chairman of the Columbia Baptist Conference Board of Trustees when Crossroads Baptist Church in Bellevue, Washington was started.  He also served on the Triad committees that started McLoughlin Heights, Bethel, and Glisan Street Baptist Churches.   Dr. Nelson served as local chairman of the organizing committee for the 1984 Baptist General Conference Annual Meeting held in Portland, the largest BGC meeting ever.

    Dr. Nelson has always been an upbeat and caring person.  Every one had great respect for Dr. Nelson.  When he spoke, it was for a purpose and we all listened.  Together with Marilyn they watched over the spiritual up bringing of the Young Married Class at Temple in the 1960's as sponsors.  Evans and Marilyn truly set the highest example of a Christian couple for us to mold our lives after.  They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1999.

Click Here to see the WW II Honor Roll

    One of Evans and Marilyn's favorite Bible verses is:  

        "For I know the plans I have for you, '"declares the Lord,"' plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."                                                                  Jeremiah 29: 11-13