Howard E. Besmer

Funeral Services for Howard F. Besmer will be conducted from the Evangelical Free Church in Loomis, Nebraska on Saturday, April 14, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Tom Thompson, officiating. Interment will be in the Highland Cemetery at Bertrand, Nebraska.

Howard Fred Besmer, 73 years of age, of Bertrand, passed away on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at the Bertrand Nursing Home. Howard was born April 16, 1933 at Jamison, Nebraska, the third of four children of Fred and Clara (Schoenefeld) Besmer. He received his education at Jamison. Following his education, he engaged in farming with his father. On June 17, 1953 he was inducted into the United States Army, serving his country during the Korean War until his honorable discharge on May 11, 1955. Following his discharge, he returned home to the family farm.

On December 2, 1956 he was united in marriage to Leona Fay Faatz at Jamison and to this union eight children were born: Marlene, Randy, Russell, Kevin, Kenneth, Martin, Melody and Connie. The family made their home in Naper, Nebraska until moving to Minden, Nebraska in 1967, where Howard was employed by Harold Warp. In 1970, the family moved north of Bertrand, where Howard worked for Pearson Land and Cattle. Following their move into Bertrand, Howard was employed by Alfred Holscher for several years and later was employed by the Village of Bertrand as the Street Superintendent until his retirement in 1984 due to his failing health.

Howard loved fishing and boating, tending to his garden, tinkering with mowers and snow blowers and going to auctions, hunting for his next scooter.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Leona of Bertrand; three daughters: Marlene Besmer and her special friend, Roland White of Bertrand, Mel Wentling and her husband, Scott of Grand Island, Nebraska and Connie Holliday and her husband, Jim of Aurora, Nebraska; five sons: Randy Besmer and his wife, Robbie of Isanti, Minnesota, Russ Besmer and his wife, Theresa of Cozad, Nebraska, Kevin Besmer and his special friend, Chris Brooks of Loomis, Kenny Besmer and his wife, Tina L. of Loomis and Martin Besmer and his wife, Tina of New Orleans, Louisiana; twenty-one grandchildren; two step-grandsons; fourteen great-grandchildren; one sister, Delores Beeck and her husband, Elmer of Wentworth, South Dakota; one brother, Alvin Besmer and his wife, Penny of Rapid City, South Dakota; one brother-in-law, Leland Faatz and his wife, Linda of St. Claire Shore, Michigan; sister-in-law, Lavina Bahm and her husband, Robert of Gregory, South Dakota; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Chris Rasmussen; sister, Arlene Besmer and three brothers-in-law: LeRoy Faatz, Larry Faatz and LaVern Faatz; and a sister-in-law, Lyla Mae (Faatz) Jones.

Mr. Besmer will lie in state at the Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand, Nebraska on Friday, April 13, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
A memorial has been established in his memory and suggested to the Bertrand Fire Department or the Bertrand Nursing Home.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand is in charge of the arrangements.