Kenneth M Beetsch

Kenneth M. Beetsch, age 90, of North Mankato, died Sunday, January 18, 2004 at Immanuel-St. Josephs Hospital in Mankato.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday at Mankato Mortuary. Burial will be in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the services on Friday. Memorials are preferred to American Heart Association or to an organization of the donors choice.

Kenneth Marvin Beetsch was born in St. Paul on October 27, 1913 to Elizabeth (Priem) and George Beetsch. He attended Roosevelt Grade School and graduated in 1931 from Mankato High School, where he played football. He worked as a linotype operator at the Free Press and in 1930 joined the National Guard. He was on active duty from 1941-1946, serving in Kodiak, Alaska and the European Theater of Operations. He retired in 1946 as a Major. He married Betty Wood on June 17, 1944 and she died in 1994. For many years, he operated the Northside Texaco station on Belgrade Avenue, where his many customers were his friends. He was a member of American Legion Post 11 and VFW Post 950. He loved his country, family reunions, his coffee friends, KFC, Old Country Buffet and growing nasturtiums.

Survivors include his sister, Carol Beetsch of Waseca; two brothers and their wives, Harold Hez and Liz Beetsch of Edina, Dick and Barb Beetsch of Red Wing; brother-in-law, Richard Wood of Elysian; two sisters-in-law, Jean Beetsch of Mankato, Fern Beetsch of Napa, CA; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, three brothers, and one sister.

This kind, smiling, polite gentleman will be missed by family, friends, and neighbors.