Dennis E. Lager Obituary (1944

Dennis E. Lager entered this world on November 19th, 1944, in Great Falls, Montana. He was the eldest child of Oliver and Helen Lager; soon after, his sister Joyce joined the family. He spent his childhood years camping and fishing in the great outdoors of Montana and was the Cadet Training Officer in the Civil Air Patrol as a teenager. At age 7, Dennis committed his life to the Lord. Later, describing his conversion, he wrote: "A peace filled my heart, such a peace filling all my being that it is difficult to put into words. All fear was gone, and that peace is still mine today. God is real to me. Jesus did not die on the cross in vain for me. This triune God became a person to me - the distance between Him and me was gone. My life is committed to Him, no matter what." Dennis lived his life for Jesus, even throughout all the difficulties in his later years. Dennis proudly married Betty in 1974, as she perfectly met all eight of his specific requirements for a wife, most important of which was her shared love for Jesus. God answered their prayers and blessed them with two children, Stephen and Susan. Dennis graduated with a Master of Arts in Psychology and a Doctorate in Education. He worked for the State of Washington's Department of Developmental Disabilities for 30 years and taught college courses for the Navy upon his retirement. As an active member of his church, he served as an elder for many years and offered Christian counseling to many. Dennis loved to camp, fish, hunt, and hike. He was a voracious reader and believed in lifelong learning. His passions included airplanes and airshows, studying history, and constructing an HO scale Taskforce Gold Battalion. He was a member of the American Psychological Association and the American Association for Counseling and Development. He also was an avid Major League Baseball fan and pledged his loyalty to the New York Yankees. On July 14, 2023, Dennis went home to be in the presence of the Lord. He is preceded in death by his mother and step-father, Helen and James Konyha, and his father, Oliver Lager. He is survived by his wife (Betty), sister (Joyce), son (Stephen), daughter (Susan), and four grandchildren (Caedmon, Joshua, Daniel, and Saoirse). A memorial service will be held in his honor at Faith Community Bible Church on Friday, July 28th, at 1 pm in Bremerton, Washington.