Sarah Jongeward

Sarah Alice (Weiss) Jongeward was born in Klamath Falls, OR on March 21, 1924 to Zeno and Frances Weiss. She was the oldest of five kids. After attending school in California for 2 years the family moved to Elgin, Oregon where she graduated from Elgin High School in 1942. At age 16, she became aware of God’s great love for her and accepted Christ as her Savior and Lord. At that time she also felt called to serve on a foreign mission field. In 1943 she attended Multnomah School of the Bible (now Multnomah University) in Portland, OR. There she met Dean Jongeward of Moxee, WA. They graduated at the top of their class in 1946 and were married October 1st in Portland, OR. Then Dean served a short time as pastor of the Harrah Union Church. They moved to Los Angeles where he attended the School of Missionary Medicine at Biola College in preparation for missionary service with Sudan Interior Mission. Alice and Dean along with two small children arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 1950. After language school, they were assigned to establish a new mission station in rural eastern Ethiopia. Later they moved to southern Ethiopia where Dean taught In a Bible School. Along with being a fulltime mom, Alice ran the guest house and taught classes in a girl’s school. Three of their six children were born in Ethiopia and the older ones went to Bingham Academy, a boarding school in Addis Ababa. After serving for 12 years in Africa, the family returned to the United States in the summer of 1962 and settled in Dean’s home town of Yakima WA. Dean was assistant pastor at West Side Baptist Church. Later he was a full-time traveling evangelist and preacher. The family lived in West Valley. Alice was a homemaker and enjoyed having a huge garden, along with raising rabbits, sheep and beef on their mini-farm. Roses were special to her, in particular pink roses. Her home was always open to missionaries, family and friends. The family was active members of West Side Baptist Church. For many years Alice taught Sunday School. She served on the Deaconess Board and Church Services Commission, was a facilitator for women’s Bible studies and enjoyed doing visitation. She deeply loved West Side. Also, for 6 years she was a leader in Bible Study Fellowship. In 1969 her husband Dean (age 44) died of brain cancer. Her teenage son Allen also died in the same month as a result of a car accident. Her strong faith in a sovereign God sustained her. She was faithful to her God, family, church and community. She remained a widow. After her children left home, Alice was employed in 1978 as a receptionist at Living Care Center until retirement in 1995. She loved Living Care, and it was her desire to eventually move there for her final years of care. She truly left a legacy of faith, love and hope for all. Alice was preceded in death by her parents Zeno and Frances Weiss of McMinnville, OR; her husband, Dean; son Allen and sister Lelaine Tucker. Alice is survived by a sister Velda Swaim, a brother, Winton Weiss and wife Bonnie, a sister Colleen Noonan and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her children: Harold Jongeward (wife Becky) of Sebring, FL with two grown daughters; Marilee Whitney (husband Gordon) of Dallas, TX with 3 grown children; David Jongeward (wife Debbie) of Littleton, CO with four grown children; Jim Jongeward (wife Edna) of Moxee, WA with 8 grown children; and Philip Jongeward of Yakima, WA. Alice has 17 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren with an additional two expected soon. She was also Grandma to four foster children. There will be a private family burial. A memorial “Celebration of Life” service is scheduled at West Side Church (6901 Summitview Ave, Yakima, WA.) on April 28 at 2:30 PM. Memorial Gifts may be designated to West Side Church. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Sarah Jongeward, please visit our flower store.