Partly Cloudy, 47° F
(May 18, 2001)
The Rev. Roy Malcolm Kooshian, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Powell, died Friday, May 18 in Billings, Mont. He was 67.
At the time of his death, he was pastoring at Heights Baptist Church in Billings.
He was born Nov. 5, 1933, in Pasadena, Calif., to George and Suzanne (Derghazarian) Kooshian. He attended schools in California, earning a bachelor's degree from Westmont College and a Master of Divinity and a Master of Religious Education at Fuller Seminary. He served in the U.S. Army as a medic.
On July 11, 1964, he married Lora Jean Peabody in Sunnyside, Wash. Together they had three children.
The Rev. Kooshian spent his life in various pastorates, starting in Eugene, Ore., in 1962. He also served in Lebanon and Ashland, Ore., and in Powell and Brush, Colo.
He loved the people God gave him to shepherd. He had a heart for introducing people to the Lord. He was excited to see the growth and anticipated construction of a new building for his congregation so that additional outreach and growth could take place. He was known for his humor and his love for his wife, his children and grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife Lora; two sons, Brian Kooshian and wife Jennifer of Zeeland, Mich., and Bradley Kooshian of Billings; a daughter, Bethany Farley and husband Daniel of Weisbaden, Germany; three brothers, Charles Kooshian and wife Virginia of Los Alamos, N.M., Percy Kooshian and wife Carolyn of Oregon City, Ore., and George Kooshian and wife Clary of Altadena, Calif.; and six grandchildren, Peter, Jeremiah, Emma and Noel Kooshian, and Alsacia and Cameron Farley.
A visitation will be held today (Tuesday) from 2 to 8 p.m. at Heights Baptist Church, 383 E. Alkali Creek Road, Billings. A memorial service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Faith Evangelical Center, 28th Street West and Broadwater Ave., Billings. Interment of ashes will be at a later date.
