Irvin Eldred Sidebottom

Irvin Eldred Sidebottom, at the age of 93, went home to be with his Savior on April 26, 2018, while living at the Eben Ezer Nursing Home in Brush, CO.  His care from the staff at Eben Ezer was wonderful and we as a family appreciated it very much.  He was born in Mason County, IL to Irvin and Laura (Schoonover) Sidebottom on October 16, 1924, the 5th of six children.   

His eight years of grade school were in a one room school house (Red Oak School) that was located on the farm the family rented.   This school was also where they went to church for many years.  When Eldred was a teenager he trusted Christ as his personal Savior and became a member of the United Brethren Church in Easton, IL.   He attended Easton High School for 4 years and graduated in 1942.  From the time he was 5 years old he planned to be a farmer.  So after high school, when he was rejected by the arm services, he and his father started farming together.  They bought machinery and in the first year of farming 110 acres, he paid for his tractor, plow, and cultivator.   Eldred also received a Certificate for Outstanding Agricultural Performance in 1943 for growing 121.13 bu. of corn per acre.  This yield was produced from DeKalb Hybrid Seed Corn Variety #680.   He farmed from 1943 until 1950.   

When he was 24 years of age he wanted to learn more of God's Word so he attended Milwaukee Bible Institute in Milwaukee, WI where he graduated in May 1951.  It was there he met his wife, Beverly Jane Petersen.  They were married on May 27, 1950 and to this union four children were born – Phyllis Jane, Daniel Irvin, Linda Elaine, and Ronald Keith.  The summer after he was married, he gave up farming (planting seeds) and felt the Lord leading him to preach (planting the Word). 

Eldred's first pastorate was in 1951 at Belmont Community Church, Belmont, MI where he serviced from 1951-1954.  In the fall of 1954 he moved his family to Cope, CO where he pastored the Cope Community Church for 12 years.  Eldred became treasurer of Things to Come Mission, Inc. in 1960 and in 1963 he became the Director of TCM, serving for 28 years.  As Director of Things to Come Mission, he traveled to many different countries; Mexico City, Republic of the Philippines, Europe, Nigeria West Africa, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Japan, Puerto Rico and several other islands.   Eldred also helped start a church in Eckley, CO and became its first pastor from 1985 to 2004. 

He enjoyed sports from his high school years until he was about 90 years of age.  He was on the baseball, basketball, and track teams all four years of High School.  He played softball until he was 75 years, played basketball many years on a town team in Illinois and Colorado and bowled league in Yuma at least 30 years.  Eldred loved to pitch horseshoes and was Colorado State Champion in Class B in 1976.  He took up golfing about 50 years of age and played many, many rounds until he was 90, having his first hole-in-one at the age of 80. 

Even though he was not farming, he enjoyed working in his big garden which produced fresh fruits and vegetables each year.  “Hoeing weeds was not a chore but good exercise,” so he said.   His uncle once said to him, “The weeds just don't have a chance with you around, do they?”  There was always more than enough produce to share with neighbors and friends.   For several years Eldred took garden produce and flowers to the Washington County Fair and brought home quite a few blue and red ribbons, plus he received the Champion Garden Showman award 9 years.  

Eldred served one term on the Arickaree School board and drove the school bus for 5 years.  He was the Fire Chief at the Cope Volunteer Fire Department for two terms and a volunteer fireman for many more years.   During the 1960's he was the Deputy Sheriff for Washington County.    

In his early years at Cope, two verses became significant in his outlook on life and missionary work.  Luke 12:15 “...a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” and  

II Corinthians 12:14 “...for I seek not yours, but you...”    

Eldred is survived by his four children:  Phyllis (Dan) Studebaker of Russell, KS; Daniel (Jennifer) Sidebottom of Leavenworth, WA; Linda (Steve) Sackett of Cope, CO; and Ronald (Kathy) Sidebottom of Brush, CO; 6 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; a sister, Vida Harrison of Mason City, IL, plus many nieces and nephews. 

Eldred was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly, of 62 years, his father and mother, brother Omar Sidebottom and wife Charlotte, brother Kenneth Sidebottom and wife Hallie, sister Mary Turner and husband James, sister Iris Brownrigg and husband Brownie.  

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 25, 2018 at the Cope Community Church at 2:00 pm. 

Memorials may be given to Cope Community Church, Things to Come Mission, or Wyoming Grace Youth Camp

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