OBITUARY: Waseca Journal, 16 Feb 1954
Robert Bethke Dies, Rites Held Monday

Robert Bethke, a resident of Waseca and the vicinity for many years, died at 3:30 Thursday afteroon, Feb. 11, at Memorial Hospital, where he had been a patient since the previous evening. Earlier, Mr. Bethke, who would have reached his 88th birthday had he lived until July 30, had suffered what appeared to be a heart attack. Two light strokes followed and he suffered a broken hip in the second attack. His home was at 121 7th Ave. S.E.

Funeral services were held Monday, with 11 o'clock family services at the Pfaff chapel followed by two o'clock rites at St. Paul's Lutheran church, of which Mr. Bethke was a member. The Rev. E.H. Eifert officiated.

Mr. Bethke was born in Germany in 1866 and came to this county as a small boy with his parents. He was one of the family of 14 children born to August and Louise Bethke. He farmed in Wilton and later lived in Redwood Falls for three years before returning to Waseca in 1923. Mr. Bethke was employed at the local canning factory for a number of years and later was employed as patrolman at South Side school near his home until the automatic signals were installed.

On May 23, 1901, Mr. Bethke was married to Louise Wolf at Owatonna. She died at Memorial hospital on Sept. 5, 1941. Seven of his brothers and sisters preceded him in death, two having passed away within the last seven months, Ewald J. Bethke in July 1953 and Miss Edith Bethke who died January 14. Two others died in infancy and two other brothers Herbert and August, and a sister, Mrs. Emil Proechel (Minnie) also are deceased.

Surviving are two sons, Ben Bethke of Great Falls, Mont., and Wallace Bethke, Waseca, a daughter, Mrs. Floyd Haushaun (Gertrude), New Richland, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He also leaves two brothers Edward and Albert Bethke, and four sisters, Mrs. Mathilda Proechel, Mrs. Amelia Gehring, Mrs. Ben Bishman (Emma) and Mrs. Wallace Ruedy Sr. (Nettie), all of Waseca and vicinity.

Pall bearers at the final rites were six nephews, Wilfred Proechel, Ewald Gehring, Glen Bethke, Chester Bethke, Wallace Ruedy, Jr. and Ben Bishman, Jr.

Interment was in the Woodville cemetery.