She and Les spent a year on deputation and then, together, they returned to the island of Leyte in the Philippines.  They established the first Baptist church in the main city of Tacloban.  From it they began many missions.

During World War II, Les spent 39 months in a Japanese prison camp in Manchuria where he contracted a lung fungus.  The Philippine climate took its toll on Les' health and the Funks left the Philippines for Australia.  They spent four years in Australia where they helped establish the first Baptist College as well as plant a church.  Les' health fared much better while in Australia and even improved to the point that they were able to return to the Philippines for a while.   

Upon returning to the Philippines, Les and B'Etta continued the work in Tacloban on the island of Leyte.  Later they felt the Call of God to go to Manila.  They established a church in the Manila suburb of Paranaque.  During this time B'Etta worked on writing and publishing a curriculum for use in Sunday School.  Her aim was to produce a  three year course suitable for use with Filipino children.  Les' health continued to fail and had manifested itself as cancer.   They were forced to return to the states for two years.  For a short time after that, they were able to return to Cebu, Philippines to assist in teaching at the college and for B'Etta to continue her work on the Sunday School lessons.

In 1987 they were again forced to return to the states due to Les' health.  He was diagnosed as terminal and went to be with the LORD on November 30th.

After Les' death B'Etta stayed in the states and continued to work on the Sunday School material.  She finished that and today they have a complete children's three year course and it is still being used in the church and missions of the Philippines.  She was also able to return to teach in one of the Philippine Bible Colleges for a short time.  Due to her health she had to return to the states and she has retired.

God's work, which she and Les were instrumental in starting, continues today.  One of the boys in their Sunday School is now a missionary in Indonesia.  Another two have both pastored Filipino churches and they are now on deputation.  One is called to Taiwan and the other to Viet Nam.  Click here to see two of these men's families.  All are supported by churches in the Philippines that were influenced by Les and B'Etta Funk.

Web Editor - Don Tarvin
 Updated 30 Jul 2006