Services will be Saturday, April 23rd at 10:00am with a lunch to follow at the Lander Church of Christ 1320 Sinks Canyon Road
Charles Jackie Minter Sr.
Born March 13, 1930 and entered into eternal life November 12, 2021
It is an amazing thing to be able to celebrate a life well lived – a life centered around serving God.
Jack was born in Dodge City, Kansas on March 13, 1930, the second of six children. His early life was spent on farms and a ranch in western Kansas while working with his family’s water-well drilling business. Even though he had grandparents who knew God and lived Christ in their lives, Jack didn’t. He tells a story of promising a minister that he would bring a tractor and do some cleanup around a church building. Jack showed up on a Sunday – it was just another day to him.
In September 1950, Jack enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed in Germany, assigned to Air Force Intelligence. This time spent on his own behind enemy lines, witnessing the start of the Cold War, led him to “search for a life with more meaning and a future. To live recklessly and with no regard for the rights and feelings of others is no life.” He was fortunate to find people who taught him about Christ and a plan for living a happy and rewarding life. Jack was baptized in 1954. He said, “This was a true turning point in my life. My whole purpose in life changed.”
After starting school at Abilene Christian University in 1955, Jack met and married the love of his life, Daphene Telchick on August 13th, 1955. They moved to Borden County, Texas to farm cotton with Daphene’s family where he concentrated on new methods for soil conservation and farming.
In 1966, the family moved to Canberra, Australia to be part of developing a cotton program in New South Wales. At the conclusion of this project, the family returned to the States. A request from Stanley Shipp stopped them in Riverton, Wyoming to help with the church for a few months, which turned into years.
While in Riverton, Jack taught school and continued to be involved in farming and ranching. He then established Minter realty, which he ran until retiring in 1992. Jack could tell some great stories about the times with the church family in Riverton and Lander, taking kids to youth rallies all over the state and grocery runs for Wyoming Bible Camp.
Due to Daphene’s health, Jack and Daphene moved back to Texas in 1992 to be closer to family. Grandad Jack was a constant presence on the farm, engaged with the launch of organic cotton in the marketplace, and numerous school activities.
Jack took annual mission trips to Bulgaria for ten years and stayed active in the mission work in South Africa. He found Christ on a foreign field and felt that he wanted to give that back to God as a service in his life…to take the word to others.
After losing Terry (La Rhea’s husband) in 2007, Jack, Daphene, and La Rhea moved back to their heart home – Fremont County, Wyoming. Daphene went ahead to the pearly gates on April 19, 2017. Jack said that “God brought us back to Wyoming to complete his purpose and to encourage whenever God calls. He has blessed me over and over again.”
Jack is survived by two children – La Rhea and Jack Jr – five grandchildren – Lee, Talin, Ethan, English, and Ashton – and nine great-grandchildren that he affectionally called “the little people.” He also has many heart-children including Kelly Strickland, her three sons, and numerous foster children. We share Jack with dozens of other children and people that also knew him as Grandad Jack.
Psalm 68:6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
Jack has been more than a father, more than a grandfather – he has been a living example – not a perfect example – but a living, breathing example of a man who has kept his eyes on the prize – to put God first in his life and to take others on this life changing journey.
Jeremiah 17:7-87 “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Psalm 1391 You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Thank you, Jack for your service to God – we have been blessed to have you in our lives.
The best way to honor Jack is to put Christ first in your life. If you would like to provide a donation – please send a gift to:
Mountain States Children’s Home14780 N. 107thLongmont, CO 80504303.776.6841https://www.msch.org