Rev. Harold William Nettleton
May 7th, 1924 to May 5th, 2012
Harold Nettleton was born to William and Elizabeth Nettleton in Lethbridge Alberta, 87 years ago, on May 7th, 1924. He enjoyed an older sister Elsie (deceased) and a younger brother Phil (living in Vancouver) as they grew up together on a farm in Southern Alberta.
Harold left the farm as a teenager at 19 years of age, during wartime, to join the Royal Canadian Airforce where he became an officer and a pilot. He was stationed in England and later in Scotland as a bomber pilot.
At the conclusion of the war he returned to Canada and attended the University of British Columbia, where he began to train as an Engineer. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Mildred Beth Anderson, and the two were wed in Calgary in 1949. Both sensed God’s call to the ministry, and enrolled in Bible College in Victoria B.C., where they completed their studies in preparation for the ministry. They served in full time pastoral ministry in Calgary Alberta from 1951 to 1955.
They then pioneered a new church plant in the Northern community of Peace River where they were instrumental in establishing church plants in numberous neighbouring communities over a period of 12 years.
In 1967 Harold and his family of five children, moved to Ladysmith on Vancouver Island, to pastor Bethel Pentecostal Church. It was in Bethel that Harold’s ministry would conclude.
Harold predeceases his wife of 62 years, Beth, brother Phil Nettleton. . . sons Paul Nettleton, Rev. Joel Nettleton, Daniel Nettleton and daughters, Ruth Cowley and Joy McGrath. . . 16 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.