Lyn Hershey, 93, died April 24, 2026, in Filer, Idaho. He was a follower of Jesus, a pastor and a spiritual entrepreneur. He lived a life of ministry, dedicated to human rights and service to others, establishing ministries that continue.
Born March 16, 1933, the fourth of eight children to Mark E. and Anna K. (Hershey) Hershey, he grew up on the family dairy farm in Paradise, Pa. At 13, he began to paint, a hobby that would continue throughout his life. As a conscientious objector, he served in Mennonite Voluntary Service in Reedley, Calif., and Denver General Hospital. He married Norma Jean “Jeanie” Kauffman on April 1, 1958. They were co-directors of a Voluntary Service unit in Portland, Ore., coordinating outreach in interracial neighborhoods.
In 1962, Lyn became pastor of Tenth Street Mennonite Church in Wichita, Kan., in a predominantly Black community. He and other Mennonite pastors participated in a civil rights march in Mississippi. In 1966, the pair became the directors of Drift Creek Mennonite Camp on the Oregon coast, which continues to minister to youth today, marking almost 60 years of service.
Lyn served as director of Minority Ministries with Mennonite Board of Missions in Elkhart, Ind., in 1969, and then established Haystack Reservoir Campground in Central Oregon, holding informal church services. With the help of Pacific Coast Mennonite Conference, they became Central Oregon Mennonite Fellowship. Land was donated and Crooked River Ranch Chapel was built, with Lyn as pastor. The church marked its 50th anniversary last year. In retirement they were interim pastors at Aberdeen Mennonite Church in Idaho and Menno Mennonite Church in Ritzville, Wash.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jeanie; sons Mark (Jean), Daniel, Terry (Lauren) and Ron (Pascal); daughter Lynette Groh (Phil); brother Bob Hershey; sisters Janet Martin, Doris Lichty and Velda (Warren) Peachey; sister-in-law Betty Hershey; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were brother Ken Hershey and sisters Jean Hershey and Ethel Bender.
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