Russell Frederick Houts

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Houts, Russell Frederick 76, known to all as "Fred," passed peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, at his home in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. He was born April 11, 1939, in Lemont, College Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania, the son of the late Franklin Garbrick and Bertha Schubert (Campbell) Houts. Fred grew up in Houserville, PA, with his parents and six siblings, and was a 1957 graduate of the State College High School. Fred's parents were fervent prayer warriors on behalf of their children and extended family and friends. On June 17, 1961, at Ashtabula, Ohio, with his brother, Rev. Kenneth Houts, officiating, Fred married the former Amy E. Shank, who survives. Music had a great influence on Fred's life. In junior high he was selected to participate at the county level in a choral music group. His older sister took piano lessons and showed Fred where to find middle C and where it was located in music. From this, Fred taught himself to play the melody line of several old hymns with one finger. He eventually played for many weddings and church events during his youth. He taught himself further, and took a year of lessons from a teacher at Trinity Bible College in Clearwater, Florida. During his college days he sang and toured with the Swordsmen, a Gospel Men's Group. Fred kept up his love for music throughout his life. Most recently, he played for the Friday morning Men's Bible Study at New Hope Church. Early on, Fred developed a love for local history and genealogy, keeping scrapbooks of local events in his high school days. These would become the nucleus of a massive genealogical collection which contained records of many thousands of individuals. Fred also was instrumental in indexing various Centre County records and these are still used today by those who are searching their family history. For many years, Fred enjoyed regular annual visits with Amy to Centre County to visit with relatives and friends and to work on his genealogy. From June, 1957 to August, 1959, Fred was employed as a bookkeeper for Erie Technical Ceramics, State College, PA. He joined the First Baptist Church in Bellefonte in the summer of 1959. He went on to serve the Lord's mission field throughout the United States. Fred received his Bachelor's (1963) and Master's (1964) degrees in Religious Education from Trinity College, Clearwater, FL. During his last two years there, he served also as Special Assistant to the President and founder of the College, Dr. William T. Watson. From June, 1964, to August, 1965, he served as Educational Assistant at the Whiteville Methodist Church of Whiteville, NC; as a film representative for World Wide Pictures (division of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association) in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, from August 1965 to December 1966; and as a computer operator for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Minneapolis, MN, from January 3, 1967, until becoming Supervisor of Computer Operations there in November, 1988. He retired from the Billy Graham organization July 8, 2002, after 35 1/2 years of service. Fred and Amy were members of Northbrook Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, Brooklyn Center, MN, from January, 1967 until January, 1985 and joined Faith Baptist Church of Minneapolis, MN, February 3, 1985. They sang in the choirs and shared the responsibility of directing the handbell choir as well. Fred also served as Financial Secretary and as a Deacon at Faith Baptist Church. In November, 1999, he and Amy joined Crystal Evangelical Free Church (now New Hope Church) of New Hope, MN. Throughout his career, his genealogical work, his church involvement, and his family life, Fred touched many lives and was a stellar witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone he met. In addition to his wife, Amy Houts of Brooklyn Center, MN, Fred is survived by his daughter, Kerry Houts of Eagan, MN; his son, Jon (Josephine) Houts of Minneapolis, MN; as well as four siblings, Dr. Richard F. (Janice) Houts of Sioux Falls, SD, Rev. Kenneth O. Houts of Westville, NJ, Harry Dean Houts of State College, PA, and Ricky David (Becky) Houts of Houserville, PA; 5 grandsons, Nathaniel Houts, Andrew Houts, Jaheim Nuah, Biggie Konneh, and Jonathan Houts; many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two sisters, Doris Weaver and Donna J. Bjalme; an infant brother; a daughter-in-law, M. Jasmine Houts; and two grandsons, Walter Jonathan Houts and Eric Michael Houts. A Celebration of Fred's life will be held at New Hope Church on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 11:00 am with Pastor Greg Braly officiating. A reception will follow the service. Private interment will be held at the Mound Cemetery in Brooklyn Center, MN. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the New Hope Church, 4225 Gettysburg Ave, New Hope, MN or to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201. Evans-Nordby 763-533-3000 evansnordby.com

Published on April 26, 2015