In Memoriam 1992-1997/Verne Stout

In Memoriam 1992-1997 Verne Stout

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VERNE STOUT 1897-1995

Terne Stout credited his pinochle partner for bringing him to an acceptance of Bahá’u’lláh. He was living in Geneva, New York, and in 1943 when Verne was forty-five years old, working in the defense industry, Kenneth Christian wrote to him asking if he would consider pioneering to Alaska to help form its first Spiritual Assembly. Alaska had been successfully opened during the Seven Year Plan (1937-1944), and with extra effort it would be possible to form an administrative institution before the Plan’s conclusion. Verne was fond of recalling that Kenneth’s first-class letter, which beckoned him to the pioneering field, needed only a two-cent stamp.

Verne agreed and became the first man to pioneer for the Bahá’í Faith to Alaska. Eleven women had preceded him in serving in that far-north place, which has long had a reputation as the land of sourdoughs and other "he-men." When Verne arrived in Anchorage in June of 1943, it was difficult for him to find a place to stay. He was finally able to rent a bed, which was his for a few hours each day, before someone else would come to sleep in it.

He met his future wife, Janet Whitenack, when she arrived in Anchorage from Tuluksak, Alaska. She too had been asked to move to Anchorage to form that

A card game.

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Verne Stout

first Spiritual Assembly. Verne rented a taxi and went to the train depot to pick her up. He remembered that she had thirteen small boxes, which constituted her luggage, and he had to pay the driver separately for each parcel. That was his first adventure with his wife-to-be.

The Spiritual Assembly of Anchorage was duly formed on September 8, 1944. The membership consisted of Verne, one other man, and seven women. Shortly thereafter the other man left Alaska. After the by-election the Spiritual Assembly consisted of bachelor Verne and eight women, most of whom were single. He married Janet145 who was also from New York State. Their home on Tenth Avenue was the center of much of the Anchorage Bahá’í activity for over a decade until the Stouts-Verne, Janet, and their children Richard and Dorothy-pioneered further afield in 1958. Verne was chairman of the memorable Alaska State Convention of 1953. At that time there were some forty Bahá’ís living in eleven different communities in Alaska. All had been stunned by the news that Alaska was to have its own National Spiritual Assembly. Someone suggested starting a fund for a National Haziratu’l-Quds. A heated discussion followed. It was argued that it was impossible to start such a fund before the National Spiritual Assembly was elected. Verne, as chairman, monitored the discussion, reached into his pocket, pulled out a dollar bill, slapped it on the table, and said, "This is the first dollar for the Haziratu’l-Quds of Alaska. Now, tell me it can't be done." In January 1954 the Hand of the Cause Leroy loas, writing from the Holy Land, said that the Guardian "was pleased with the establishment of the fund for the Hazira for Alaska."146

That was not the end of Verne's involvement with the Haziratu’l-Quds. A log cabin was found in Anchorage at 810 Eighth Avenue, but it needed a lot of work. Verne was the major force behind its renovation, working on it up until a half hour before Florence Mayberry conducted the formal dedication in August of 1954.

In 1957 Verne and Janet were elected to the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Alaska. During that first year he took early retirement from the Alaska Railroad and pioneered with his family to the Matanuska Valley. He built a home six miles south of Palmer, where he lived for nearly thirty years until moving into a retirement home in 1986.

In 1963 Verne attended the first International Convention in Haifa, Israel, for the

145 See "In Memoriam." The Bahá’í World, vol. XIX, pp. 661-63.

146 High Endeavours: Messages to Alaska (National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Alaska, 1976), P. 55. [Page 231]formative election of the Universal House of Justice. From there he went to London for the first Bahá’í World Congress. His services to the Cause have been legion, rarely missing a Bahá’í event until deterred by the infirmities of age. The Stouts were the first Bahá’ís in the Matanuska Valley. By the time of Verne's passing, the area had four Spiritual Assemblies, two of which were incorporated, plus two active groups. His gentle manner, kindliness of heart, demeanor, composure, and aura of serenity were best expressed by an acquaintance who offered these simple words with a musical lilt, "Now, there is a gentleman." Verne's portrait is one of seven of the early believers that are displayed at the National Haziratu’l-Quds of Alaska.

On June 28, 1995, at the age of ninety-seven, fifty-two years after arriving at his pioneer post, Verne's soul winged its flight to the ‘Abhá Kingdom. He was preceded in death by ten years by his wife, Janet, and he was buried by her side. Two illustrious pioneers, side by side, their bones buried in their field of service.

News of his passing was conveyed to the Universal House of Justice, and the Department of the Secretariat responded on June 30:

The Universal House of Justice has received your email conveying the news of the passing of Mr. Verne Stout at the age of 97. He is warmly remembered for his long service to the Bahá’í community of Alaska, particularly for his services during the Faith’s early years there. Pioneering to Alaska in 1943, Mr. Stout had the honour of serving on both its first Local Spiritual Assembly and its first National Spiritual Assembly. His dedication is most warmly remembered. Rest assured that the House of Justice will offer loving prayers in the Holy Shrines for the progress of his soul.