AT! I have appreciated your approach to the Bible and it has helped me tremendously in my own spiritual walk. Your dedication to not only helping students have a basic knowledge of Scripture (memorizing the books of the Bible) but also encouraging us to dig deeper, to see the culture behind the words. I have always looked back fondly on the classes I took from you. Thank you!

—Nick Jones

Hi Dr. Thompson, this is a note from your mischievous student in a Bible class in 2010 who ruined your main point of comparing unkind, mean piano teachers to the vegetable pie analogy in class ... and then pranked you 5 years later by putting a Christmas gift of dollar bills and candy bars by your office door, hahahaha. And yes, my amazing teacher, Mrs. Myrn Corban, had an entire closet dedicated to the weekly treats she handed out as prizes for piano practice, along with her crisp new $1 bills. I'm still not sorry I spoke up that day 10 years ago, haha. I wish you all the best as you retire. Thanks for sharing the ever entertaining and hilarious quotes in class. They made excellent Verbatim material for the Collegian. :)

—Brenna Johnson (Nakamura)

Alden, Congratulations on 50 years of service to WWU!! That is so incredible. During that time your ministry has impacted thousands of students! I've been blessed to have worked with you as a colleague in the School of Theology for just a small portion of your time here---the last fifteen years. I still remember the enjoyable walk and conversation we had when I came on campus to interview--and all the good conversations which have followed in the subsequent years. I appreciate the love you have showed for your students and the deep concern you have for the church. Thanks for being such an inspiring colleague.

—Carl Cosaert

Hello Alden! We've never really met, but over the two years I've worked here at WWU, I've enjoyed seeing you walk to and from campus. We travel a similar route to the university. Though I haven't had personal interaction with you, I have heard from so many of your former students that I feel like I know you...at least a little. Thank you for your years of service.

—Dale Milam

Congratulations on your retirement and, especially, on reaching 50 years of service. That is an unbelievable achievement and you have been such a blessing during those 50 years to WWC/U and the SDA Church more broadly. I will always have very fond memories of team teaching Religion in a Social Context with you for a number of years. That was a real pleasure. It has been an honor to be your colleague and friend.

—Greg Dodds

Alden, since your days as an active Walla Walla student, you have been an effective advocate for ideas and people. You care a lot and that is seen in your passion for sharing concerns you have and advocating for causes and people in whom you believe. Thank you for continuing to be a tireless recruiter for good things.

—Darold Bigger

Alden, "back in the day" I entered your class as a skeptical, irritated and fed-up-to-here Adventist teenager who did not want to be bothered by one more sugar-coated Adventist platitude. I will never forget the moment you leaned over the lectern, your reading glasses at the end of your nose, and peered at us. "We Adventists are a kooky bunch," you said. And I was hooked. I was an Adventist when I entered your class, but I became an Adventist because of your class — the questions, the prodding, the way you presented things so realistically all had significant influence on who I am today. And you made it clear that our imperfect church could evolve enough for us all to be in it.  

Thank you, Alden, for your years of reflection and prayer, and for sharing with all of us along the way.  

Many blessings to you!

—Jodi Wagner

Alden, it was some time ago I first stepped into your classroom as a student a bit unsure of what to expect. Throughout that quarter and over the years since, I've grown to appreciate you more and more. Thank you so much for your life of service to WWU, it's students and the Lord! You continue to be a blessing to so many!

—Troy Patzer

Thank you, Alden, for five decades of dedication and investment in the mission of WWU. For some years I had the privilege of tracking your work on an annual basis at West Coast Religion Teachers Conference. For the past fourteen years, it has been more up close and personal, which I have appreciated very much. Thank you for teaching my children. Thank you for your interest in our shared piety in the form of worship ... and early morning worship. Thank you for your love for students with challenging questions and for walking them through positive ways to engage those questions. Your personal commitment to WWU, its mission, and its students is exemplary and I congratulate you on five amazing decades.

—John McVay

Hi Alden,  

Thank you for your service to WWU. My daughter, Kandyce Unterseher King, said you helped her understand the bible, and really made her think about why she was an SDA. Kandyce so appreciated her time in your classroom.  

As a mom, I'm thrilled Kandyce had the privilege of being one of your students.  

Warm regards,

—Renee Unterseher

Fifty years is quite the commitment, Alden! Thank you so much for your commitment to Walla Walla University, our alma mater, you have touched so many lives and have left special fingerprints in the lives of your students and in the lives of colleagues, including me.  

My favorite memory of you is your prayer right before a test in your class, something like: "Help the students remember what they studied and help them to guess intelligently what they didn't." I have adopted this prayer with my own two kids and we say it always before a test.  

Thank you for your caring and giving heart, and blessings in your retirement!

—Claudia Santellano

I remember working for Dr. Thompson in the Theology Department (1993-1996). It was always an adventure. He married my husband and me in 1996.

—Valerie Rexin

Alden, you are amazing! I never saw anyone approach 50 years of service during the time I was at WWU. I'm guessing you hold the record. And you continue to be legendary in the lives of so many of us who have been taught by, and worked with, you. I was just telling one of our AIIAS professors about you yesterday, as he was bestowing a book he wrote on me. Thank you for doing so much writing, that has blessed the lives of so many. May God continue to bless and keep you. You deserve every accolade!

—Ginger Ketting-Weller

Alden, I remember your corner kill shots in Racquetball. Even now whenever we are fortunate to emulate one of your famous shots, we will say your name, with due reverence!  

Best wishes always,

—Ken Vyhmeister

Alden, as a fourth generation Adventist, I have been raised with a lot of knowledge of our church. This year I have read two of your books, Beyond Common Ground and Escape from the Flames. Having lived a lifetime in our church with both liberals and conservatives, I found your book about how we need each other, both liberal and conservative, quite positive and refreshing. In the times we live right now, in 2020, if only more people could "love your neighbor as yourself." What a kinder, less stressful and peaceful world we would have.

I also want to thank you for helping me see the growth that took place in Ellen White's life from the beginning of her writings to the later years. It was inspiring to see how she grew from fear to joy. From my childhood of fear based religion to the joy of grace in my own life's experience, it really helped me understand why some of those books written in her earlier years are the way they are.

My husband and I are enjoying your leadership in the Chan Shun Sabbath School class. In all of your teaching and writing thank you for making all of us think. Congratulations on 50 years of service and still serving. Job well done, sir.

—Liana St Clair