Pastor Betty Sovern was a long time pastor for the deaf. She founded and pastored Calvary Assemblies of God Deaf Church in Norwalk, CA. She was a rarity: a hearing person with a love for the deaf community and a call to ministry.
Biography:
Betty Louise Waniska Sovern was born Dec. 3, 1928, in Burchard, Neb., to William and Alma Gish Waniska. The family moved to Topeka in 1944, where Betty graduated from Topeka High School. She attended Central Bible Institute in Springfield, Mo., where she met Arthur Sovern. They were married on Aug. 20, 1950, and immediately began pastoring together in Galva, Ill. Together they pastored in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and California.
Betty's lifelong ministry with the deaf began in Burlington, Iowa, where she learned to sign for a deaf family attending their church. Upon their arrival in Norwalk in 1962, Betty was asked to establish a deaf ministry in their new church. The deaf congregation grew and eventually became an established church on its own. She was the pastor of Calvary Community Deaf Church until her retirement in 1993.
She also worked as a sign language interpreter for Los Angeles County Office of Education for 22 years. Her life was a ministry and testimony to everyone who knew her. She will be remembered for her unselfish, loving attitude and her sincere love for her Lord Jesus Christ.
Betty was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, pastor, interpreter and friend. She is survived by a daughter, Linda, and her husband, Steve Isham; a son, Paul, and his wife, Sooz Sovern; five grandchildren, Jennifer Seagrove, Steven Isham, Stephanie Luna, Scott Sovern and Kristen Sovern; seven great-grandchildren, Ruben, Jonathan, Daniel, Dillon, Lexi, Ashley and Savannah; a sister, Arzella Cowen, Topeka; a sister-in-law, Marge Stout, Burlington, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Special Note:
One thing I remember about her is that she somehow found about about my deaf son (he was about 8 years old at the time), and had the church van begin picking him up for deaf church.
I will never forget her kindness.
Servant of the Lord God Almighty, forever blessed.
Biography:
Betty Louise Waniska Sovern was born Dec. 3, 1928, in Burchard, Neb., to William and Alma Gish Waniska. The family moved to Topeka in 1944, where Betty graduated from Topeka High School. She attended Central Bible Institute in Springfield, Mo., where she met Arthur Sovern. They were married on Aug. 20, 1950, and immediately began pastoring together in Galva, Ill. Together they pastored in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and California.
Betty's lifelong ministry with the deaf began in Burlington, Iowa, where she learned to sign for a deaf family attending their church. Upon their arrival in Norwalk in 1962, Betty was asked to establish a deaf ministry in their new church. The deaf congregation grew and eventually became an established church on its own. She was the pastor of Calvary Community Deaf Church until her retirement in 1993.
She also worked as a sign language interpreter for Los Angeles County Office of Education for 22 years. Her life was a ministry and testimony to everyone who knew her. She will be remembered for her unselfish, loving attitude and her sincere love for her Lord Jesus Christ.
Betty was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, pastor, interpreter and friend. She is survived by a daughter, Linda, and her husband, Steve Isham; a son, Paul, and his wife, Sooz Sovern; five grandchildren, Jennifer Seagrove, Steven Isham, Stephanie Luna, Scott Sovern and Kristen Sovern; seven great-grandchildren, Ruben, Jonathan, Daniel, Dillon, Lexi, Ashley and Savannah; a sister, Arzella Cowen, Topeka; a sister-in-law, Marge Stout, Burlington, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Special Note:
One thing I remember about her is that she somehow found about about my deaf son (he was about 8 years old at the time), and had the church van begin picking him up for deaf church.
I will never forget her kindness.
Servant of the Lord God Almighty, forever blessed.
Pastor Betty Sovern was a long time pastor for the deaf. She founded and pastored Calvary Assemblies of God Deaf Church in Norwalk, CA. She was a rarity: a hearing person with a love for the deaf community and a call to ministry.
Biography:
Betty Louise Waniska Sovern was born Dec. 3, 1928, in Burchard, Neb., to William and Alma Gish Waniska. The family moved to Topeka in 1944, where Betty graduated from Topeka High School. She attended Central Bible Institute in Springfield, Mo., where she met Arthur Sovern. They were married on Aug. 20, 1950, and immediately began pastoring together in Galva, Ill. Together they pastored in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and California.
Betty's lifelong ministry with the deaf began in Burlington, Iowa, where she learned to sign for a deaf family attending their church. Upon their arrival in Norwalk in 1962, Betty was asked to establish a deaf ministry in their new church. The deaf congregation grew and eventually became an established church on its own. She was the pastor of Calvary Community Deaf Church until her retirement in 1993.
She also worked as a sign language interpreter for Los Angeles County Office of Education for 22 years. Her life was a ministry and testimony to everyone who knew her. She will be remembered for her unselfish, loving attitude and her sincere love for her Lord Jesus Christ.
Betty was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, pastor, interpreter and friend. She is survived by a daughter, Linda, and her husband, Steve Isham; a son, Paul, and his wife, Sooz Sovern; five grandchildren, Jennifer Seagrove, Steven Isham, Stephanie Luna, Scott Sovern and Kristen Sovern; seven great-grandchildren, Ruben, Jonathan, Daniel, Dillon, Lexi, Ashley and Savannah; a sister, Arzella Cowen, Topeka; a sister-in-law, Marge Stout, Burlington, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Special Note:
One thing I remember about her is that she somehow found about about my deaf son (he was about 8 years old at the time), and had the church van begin picking him up for deaf church.
I will never forget her kindness.
Servant of the Lord God Almighty, forever blessed.
Biography:
Betty Louise Waniska Sovern was born Dec. 3, 1928, in Burchard, Neb., to William and Alma Gish Waniska. The family moved to Topeka in 1944, where Betty graduated from Topeka High School. She attended Central Bible Institute in Springfield, Mo., where she met Arthur Sovern. They were married on Aug. 20, 1950, and immediately began pastoring together in Galva, Ill. Together they pastored in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and California.
Betty's lifelong ministry with the deaf began in Burlington, Iowa, where she learned to sign for a deaf family attending their church. Upon their arrival in Norwalk in 1962, Betty was asked to establish a deaf ministry in their new church. The deaf congregation grew and eventually became an established church on its own. She was the pastor of Calvary Community Deaf Church until her retirement in 1993.
She also worked as a sign language interpreter for Los Angeles County Office of Education for 22 years. Her life was a ministry and testimony to everyone who knew her. She will be remembered for her unselfish, loving attitude and her sincere love for her Lord Jesus Christ.
Betty was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, pastor, interpreter and friend. She is survived by a daughter, Linda, and her husband, Steve Isham; a son, Paul, and his wife, Sooz Sovern; five grandchildren, Jennifer Seagrove, Steven Isham, Stephanie Luna, Scott Sovern and Kristen Sovern; seven great-grandchildren, Ruben, Jonathan, Daniel, Dillon, Lexi, Ashley and Savannah; a sister, Arzella Cowen, Topeka; a sister-in-law, Marge Stout, Burlington, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Special Note:
One thing I remember about her is that she somehow found about about my deaf son (he was about 8 years old at the time), and had the church van begin picking him up for deaf church.
I will never forget her kindness.
Servant of the Lord God Almighty, forever blessed.
Inscription
Beloved Wife and Mother. Betty L. Sovern. 1928 - 2004
Gravesite Details
Pastor Betty Sovern is buried next to her husband, Rev. Arthur L. Sovern.
