Bettcher, Merle (1937 - 2018)

BETTCHER, GARRISON, MAXWELL, BINTZ, NICOLAUS, PLAGMAN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 1/16/2018 at 21:32:20

Name of deceased: Merle Dean Bettcher

Aged: 80 yrs, 11 mo, 1 day

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: Feb. 4, 1937; Butte, Boyd County, NE

Died: Jan. 5, 2018; Myrtue Medical Center, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Funeral services: Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018; Pauley Jones Funeral Home, Harlan, IA; burial at a later date

Survived by: Wife of 58 years, Frances Bettcher of Harlan, IA; children, Tammy Garrison of Harlan, IA, Terry Bettcher (spouse, Holly) of La Vista, NE, and Kris (spouse, Mark) Maxwell of Harlan, IA; 8 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; sister, Liane Bintz of Council Bluffs, IA; nieces; nephews; other family and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Jesaias and Gertrude (nee Nicolaus) Bettcher; brother, Wilbert

Education: attended and graduated from South High School, Omaha, NE, Class of 1955

Religious affiliation: baptized at St. Paul Congregational Church, Naper, NE; confirmed at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Omaha, NE.

Military service: Enlisted into the U. S. Navy in April 1956, serving with Fighter Squadron 121 in Miramar San Diego, CA until March 1960. He served his country until April 1962, and received the Good Conduct Medal.

Marriage: Frances Marie Plagman; Feb. 8, 1959; location not provided

Employment: After the birth of their first daughter in San Diego, CA, they relocated to Omaha, NE, where Merle went to work for Safeway. They later relocated to Harlan, IA, and Merle worked for Super Value, Jim’s Locker, and, most recently, at Irwin Locker; he retired in Nov. 2017.

Hobbies/Interests: fishing; camping; boating; time spent with family; Nebraska Cornhuskers fan

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; pauleyjones.com