Randall Stiver

Randall Paul Stiver, of Brookings, died on May 10, 2026, after ashort hospitalization due to a major stroke. He was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska on July 15, 1952, to Naomi and Luther Stiver. From there the family moved to Oral, South Dakota and later to the Portland, Oregon area, and then back to South Dakota.

Randy attended the Bricket Wood campus of Ambassador College, the educational branch of the Worldwide Church of God, outside of London, England. Randy loved his experience there and the many opportunities it provided. During the summer of 1973 he and other students from all three branches of Ambassador College worked on the Temple Mount Excavation Project in Jerusalem, Israel. One of those students was LindaDundon, who became the love of his life. They married in 1974at Squaw Valley, California during the Feast of Tabernacles.

Randy was hired as a trainee in 1974 and then as a pastor in1979. His career would span 50 years in the ministry of the Church of God, first in the Worldwide Church of God and later in the United Church of God. In November of 1980 Randy and Linda welcomed their daughter, Amanda. She was the apple ofher dad’s eye, and they shared a lasting love of history.

Randy and Linda were transferred many times and served congregations in Montana, Oregon, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota. Randy was also an instructor in educational projects that reached overseas, served as a presenter on a religious telecast in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, and was actively involved in youth education. He edited several church publications through the years and was a prolific writer. He loved preaching and teaching, young and old, about God’swonderful plan of salvation for all humanity and the soon-coming return and millennial rule of Jesus Christ in the “World Tomorrow.” Randy now awaits the time when he will beresurrected from the grave to meet his Savior at His return.

Growing up on the farm, Randy was an avid hunter and fisherman who loved the creation. He knew firearms historywith unerring detail, equaled only by his knowledge of wildlife. He loved to build hand-hewn English-style longbows and was an expert. He was also an expert in history, both biblical and world history.

Randy is survived by his beloved wife, Linda, and daughter, Amanda, of Brookings; by his brother, Marshall (Joyce) Stiver, of Oral, and sister Lark Durland, of Hot Springs; and by many,much loved, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Luther Stiver, and his mother, Naomi (Bissell) Stiver; and by his sister, GayeCameron. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.