Reverend Tims Sr

Reverend Benjamin F. Tims, age 85 of Cottage Grove, died Tuesday, October 29, 2013 from injuries sustained in an accident.

Funeral services will be 10:30 am Saturday, November 2, 2013 at Light The Way Church, 7000 Jamaica Ave South, Cottage Grove with visitation for two hours prior. Interment will be in the Cottage Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials to Light The Way Church are preferred.

Benjamin Francis Tims Sr. was born August 17, 1928 in Slayton, Minnesota to Johannes and Adriana (Los) Tims after immigrating from Holland. He was second to the youngest of 15 children. Benjamin attended a one room country school near Hadley, Minnesota. He enjoyed growing up on a farm and loved to work the land. During a visit from a farmer/minister, he was introduced to the love of Jesus Christ and dedicated his life to serving The Lord on June 23, 1948. Benjamin sensed a call to pursue a life of ministry and attended Central Bible Institute in Springfield, Missouri. It was there that he met Frances Gouge who was also attending. They were united in marriage on November 26, 1953 in Kansas City, Missouri with Frances' father, Rev. Robert Gouge presiding. For the next several years Benjamin served as an associate pastor in Kansas City at his father-in-law's church as well as in Lexington, Missouri. In 1960 they moved to Minnesota and pastored a church in Red Wing until 1962 when an opportunity came up to plant a church in Hastings. They purchased a church building and lived in the lower level and raised their family. They served the Hastings community until moving to Cottage Grove to plant their second church. In 1978 they formed Park Grove Christian Center and began meeting in their home until space opened up in the Cottage Grove City Hall the following year. Benjamin purchased the land where the current Light The Way Church sits. Through his diligence and the effort of the congregation, the building was completed for their first service on January 1, 1985. Benjamin served as senior pastor until his retirement in 1994.

He was an ordained Assemblies of God minister for 56 years and a chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol. He loved to sing and enjoyed to see his children pursue their own musical interests. Benjamin enjoyed cutting and burning wood and deep down inside, he was a farmer at heart. He loved baseball, reading and had a great sense of humor. His love for Jesus was contagious and was evident in how he shared that same love for other people. Benjamin loved preaching and studying God's Word. He had a strong determination, good work ethic and wasn't afraid to try something new.

He is survived by the "Tribe of Benjamin", his wife of 59 years, Frances of Cottage Grove; daughters, Laura (Dave) Coggins of Manitowoc, WI, Lynn (John) Magee of Cottage Grove, Bobbie Joson of Cottage Grove; son, Benjamin Jr. (Luann) of Hastings; son-in-law, Tony Joson; 14 grandchildren, Jeff (Katie) Coggins, Lisa (Adam) Posegate, Ryan (Amanda) Coggins, Emily (Justin) Vannoy, Erica (Tony) Palmer, James (Stephanie) Magee, Francine (Joey) Magee-Verschaetse, Olivia, Elizabeth and Ava Magee, Kelsey, Alexhannah, Samuel Benjamin and Abigail Joson; 13 great-grandchildren; sisters, Gertrude and Alice; brothers, Henry and William and numerous nieces and nephews.