Four Generations at Northwest University
The Ross Family is sending their fourth generation to Northwest University in August 2023, with the recent admission of Kai Ushikubo. Seen from left to right are Eugene Ross, Dr. Donald Ross, Kelly Ushikubo, and Kai Ushikubo.
The Ross family’s generational impact at Northwest University started in 1950, when Eugene Ross attended Northwest Bible College, which had only recently changed its name from Northwest Bible Institute. While Eugene was living in St. John, Washington, he felt a call to ministry. He met his wife, Barbara, while attending Northwest. At that time, Charles Butterfield was president. When Eugene graduated in 1954, he asked the same question he asked of all graduating seniors: “Where are you going to pioneer your new church?” Eugene planted three churches in the Spokane area and pastored for the next 60 years. He turned 90 on October 1.
Gene’s son, Don Ross, attended Northwest University from 1974–78, serving as student body president his senior year. Since then, Don has pastored three churches with his wife, Brenda, whom he also met at Northwest College when Dr. D.V. Hurst was president. Brenda graduated from Northwest University in 2002 with a degree in business, and Don has been serving as the Northwest Ministry Network Leader since 2014. They have three children: Kelly, Kathy, and Tom. Both daughters attended Northwest. Kelly attended Northwest from 1997–2001, and Kathy attended from 2000–2004 and was in the second class of nurses graduating from the Buntain School of Nursing. Kathy and her husband, Dr. Jason Deuman, who graduated from Northwest University in 2003, pastor Creekside Church in Lynnwood. Kelly now works in the Human Resources office at Northwest University, as her mother did for 15 years.
For over 20 years, Don and Brenda Ross hosted students from all over the world—one of whom was a young Japanese student, Takeshi Ushikubo, who came to Christ while living with the Rosses. Takeshi then attended Northwest University, and both he and Kelly graduated. They were married in 2002. Takeshi is a businessman in Mill Creek, Washington, and they have three children: Kai (who will attend Northwest University this fall), Noah, and Emmi. While this story of Northwest University’s generational legacy is not unusual, it is very unusual to have all four generations living at the same time. The Rosses are proud to have such deep roots at Northwest and look forward to seeing how their legacy will continue on with the next generation.