Rainbow Reflector Spring 1999

Homestead Happenings 

By Larry Reinhold        Please check out Lyle Reinhold's Testimony and Poetry by Lee Reinhold

As we observe and celebrate the twentieth year of Rainbow Bible Ranch, I thought that I would introduce many of you to the “beginning”. God is to be glorified in all that we do and have done in His name. The Reinhold family has been on this ranch since the early 1900’s starting when Emanuel Reinhold homesteaded on Lonetree Creek where a single cottonwood tree stood near a spring. He and his wife Hazel raised eight children on the ranch. The Christian Heritage established in the early years as well as a desire to be a steward of the Land and livestock was carried on by Marvin “Tige” and his wife Vicky starting in the mid 1950’s when they took hold of the reins. Over the years they raised four children to love Jesus and the ranching experience. That brings us to 1979 when God opened new doors. On May 28th, 1979, what had started out as a fun filled day ended in what the world termed a tragedy. Lyle and Lee died.

Needless to say the walls of the family were shaken, but the foundation was unmoved. Nevertheless, in a situation as this, life is never the same.

Looking back, as hindsight has 20-20 vision, we know that God was making plans for this family and this ranch. Lyle had dreams of starting a Christian youth camp in the Black Hills region and he was not one to sit idle. Lee was being led into the musical evangelism field and he spent every waking moment preparing for that. Both boys had plans of attending Bible college together in Montana in the fall where Lyle would be a junior and Lee was to be a freshman. The boys talked extensively of their plans and the family was very supportive, to the extent that all desired to share the resources that had been entrusted by God to facilitate the possibilities that lie ahead.

You read my words in this section often and I though that it would be fun to share with you the words of Lyle and Lee Reinhold that were spoken or written just before that day.

Lyle spoke twice the day before in the church where the Reinhold families had attended for decades, the downtown Evangelical Free Church in Rapid City. I can still see Mr. Gene James introduce his good friend Lyle Reinhold to the Congregation in the absence of Pastor Stokka. Lyle took to the platform in his new suit and did a great job. He had much fun pointing out that the Rapid City Journal announced that “Dr.” Lyle Reinhold would be preaching on the 27th. I will never forget that “Big Little Brother” of mine speak. ( He was almost always bigger than me). His text for the morning service was very timely as we would know over the next twenty years and beyond. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31) It was almost like Lyle was giving the family and the congregation one last bit of encouragement. He was good at that. That evening was very special, as just before Lyle preached, my sister Lana, my brother Lee, and myself were able to provide the special music. We did not know that in less than a day that would not be possible again here in this old world. It was a blessing to sing with my brother and sister. Lee lived for Christ and loved his music. Graduating just a week before, one cannot refute the fact that Lee lived his senior year to the fullest. I stayed home from college in my spring semester to help calve and had a great time with Lee. You could not help but like him. One thing that troubled him over and over again was the attitude of many students toward their parents and families. They were ashamed of their parents and did not want to be seen with them. That seemed so foreign to Lee, as he loved his folks so much. He dreamed of traveling the country presenting Christ by using his musical capability and his vibrant personality. I chuckle yet when I remember how he planned to set up his home base at the ranch.

Well known and highly respected newspaper man and writer Bob Lee penned these words days after the homegoing of Lyle, Lee, and good friend Wayne Brost in his Editor’s Notebook column of the Sturgis Tribune/Black Hills Press.

“Whenever a tragedy such as this occurs, when young people are taken at the bloom of their promising lives, the question is invariably asked, ‘Why?’ It seems so unfair because young people have so much ahead of them...so much living - and giving - to do. Tragedies like this serve to remind all of us that none of us is truly ‘master of my fate, captain of my soul.’ These things happen quite frequently in the metropolitan sectors of the country and the big city journalists can write dispassionately about them because the victims are usually unknown to them. But in small towns like ours, journalists are not known as heartless purveyors of the news. They are too closely associated with the people they write about.

We join with the rest of the community in extending heartfelt sympathy to the Reinhold and Brost families. Their loss is the community’s - -and society's- - too!”

Mr. Lee spoke correctly for the community as they did extend their sympathy, but they have also extended their support in the development of Rainbow Bible Ranch. And that community support extended worldwide in many different forms.

Really, the use of this ranch is not out of line with the dreams of the past. My Dad loved seeing retreats take place by the Big Dam or up by the Peak. He talked about doing it more. Mom was great with the big holiday celebrations where so many people would come early in the morning and wouldn’t leave till long after bedtime. And all this took place before Rainbow Bible Ranch. It isn’t hard to see God’s hand in the preparation of Rainbow. Truthfully, it is a great demonstration of how God has used just ordinary people in some extraordinary events to His glory.