William Snow was dean at North Central

As an Assembly of God minister and North Central University professor, the Rev. William Snow drew on the difficult years of his childhood, when he was orphaned and began working on fishing boats off Canada's eastern coast in summers at the age of 13. The retired U.S. Army chaplain, who served in World War II, died of pneumonia on July 30 in Bloomington at the age of 98.

The military helped him hone his exactness and self-discipline, and his kind manner was nurtured by the church and his studies, said his daughter, Beth Swanberg of Bloomington.

"He was very precise in his sermons," said his daughter. "He was a hard worker, very bright and a perfectionist."

He would tell his family that he had been glad to work on the Atlantic Ocean as a teenager, because he knew he would at least have a place to sleep and meals to eat.

His daughter also remembered family vacations on the lake, where all but Snow enjoyed light reading. He would sit on the dock, reading his New Testament in Greek.

He was ordained shortly after completing studies at a Bible institute in Springfield, Mo., in 1938.

Before and after World War II, he was the pastor for the Assembly of God Church in Quincy, Mass.

While a pastor in Quincy, he helped raise his family, served in the Reserves and earned two degrees from Gordon College in Wenham, Mass. In 1953, he received his master's of divinity degree.

Before moving to the Twin Cities in 1961 to teach at what was then known as North Central Bible College, he served for a few years as the dean of education at what is now the Southeastern University of the Assemblies of God in Lakeland, Fla.

"He was a wonderful person," said Glen Menzies, chairman of the Department of Bible and Theology at North Central University in Minneapolis. "Everyone remembers him as being very kindly and pastoral, and an excellent teacher."

Snow served as the dean of students, and taught subjects such as the art of sermon preparation, practical lessons for pastors and New Testament Greek.

"He was like a father to me," said Rev. Bruce Kallies, a former student, who is now a pastor for the Rochester Assembly of God Church in Rochester, Minn. Snow took Kallies under his wing, because they both had difficult childhoods, but Snow's door was open to all students.

His wife of 54 years, Elizabeth, died in 2001.

In addition to his daughter, Beth, he is survived by his son, Bill of Bloomington; four grandchildren and two great- grandchildren.