In the summer of 1974 I was part of a 6 person ministry team at the Fishing Bridge area in Yellowstone. I had just finished my junior year at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. Another member of the team was Annette, who had just graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie NY.

Working in a national park for the summer tends to kindle feelings of romance. I enjoyed working with Annette and the rest of the team. We were a motley crew — a Roman Catholic studying for the priesthood, a lay Catholic woman, an Episcopalian, a Nazarene, a United Methodist, and a member of the Christian Reformed Church.

I was attracted to Annette, but our romance did not flourish until we had left Yellowstone. We will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary on May 8, 2026. We have been blessed with 2 children and 6 grandchildren. Warren Ost could not have known when he was assigning ministry staff in 1974 that he was fostering a marriage that would endure, but we believe that God was involved in Warren’s decision.

Annette became a pastor in Chicago and later obtained her PhD in New Testament studies. She taught many years at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and also served as its Dean.

-Timothy H., Yellowstone 1974