1931
Donald
2015
Donald Beyer
May 27, 1931 — August 23, 2015
Donald Philip Beyer, 84, of Breckenridge, MN, passed away on Sunday, August 23, at Essentia Hospital in Fargo, ND. The visitation will be on Wednesday, August 26, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, with a prayer service at 5:30 and rosary at 7:00 PM, at Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home in Breckenridge. The visitation will continue on Thursday, August 27, from 9:30 to 10:15 AM at the funeral home, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Breckenridge. Father Joseph Backowski will be celebrating the Mass. The interment will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Brushvale, MN.
Don was born in Breckenridge, MN, on May 27, 1931, one of seven children born to Alvin and Rose (Conzemius) Beyer. He graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1950 then began farming with his dad and brothers. In 1954, he entered the US Army and completed basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Shortly thereafter, he received a medical discharge from the Army and returned home.
On April 20, 1955, Don was united in marriage to Joan Banish at St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church in Cayuga, ND. The couple made their home on a farm near Brushvale. Don continued farming and was also a Northrup King and Betaseed Salesman. He and Joan were privileged to have taken many trips awarded him by the seed company including, Mexico City, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Philippines and Hong Kong. In 1985, they moved into Breckenridge, but Don still contributed to the work on the farm until he retired in 1991. At that time, the couple began to spend their winters in Mission, TX.
As the patriarch of his family, Don instilled the drive, ambition, and the work ethic it takes to be successful, to his children. He loved to laugh and shared his amusing sense of humor abundantly with friends and family. Don was an outdoor enthusiast and sportsman and looked forward to deer hunting both locally and in Canada. He enjoyed elk hunting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and many fly-in fishing trips to Canada. In later years, he joined the Senior Golf Tour in Mission, TX, where he played 18 to 27 holes a day until his health forced him to do less. Daily Mass and breakfast with friends, started every day in Texas. When golf was not on the schedule, Don was playing Whist, Pinochle, Smear, Texas Hold'em or simply just visiting with friends.
Don was an active member of the Wahpeton Eagles Club and St. Mary's Catholic Church. He was on the Board of Directors of the Wilkin County Crop Improvement Association, Farm Bureau, St. Mary's School Board, and served as a Connelly Township Supervisor. His family meant the world to him, and he treasured family gatherings when everyone could be together.
Don is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joan of Breckenridge; his children, Andrew (Marilyn) Beyer of Kent, MN, Cynthia Beyer of Littleton, CO; Cathy (Jim) Schultz of West Fargo, ND, Amy Beyer of San Antonio, TX, Anita (Kevin) Moxness of Medina, MN, Rose Beyer of Colorado Springs, CO, Patrick (Michelle) Beyer of Fargo, ND and Dean (Carly) Beyer of Breckenridge; his 22 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; his brother, Herbert (Marie) Beyer of Breckenridge; his sisters, Jo Haire of Battle Lake, MN and Marlene Malstrom of Detroit Lakes, MN; two sisters-in-law, Elaine Beyer of Ottertail Lake, MN and Marlene Beyer of Detroit Lakes, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
Don is preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Rose; his sons, Peter and Mark; his grandchildren, James Robert "J.R." and Jennifer Schultz; and his siblings, James and Robert Beyer and Dolores Fritz.
Please click on VIDEOS to watch a tribute to Don. The John Wayne clip didn't get played at his prayer service due to technical difficulties, but says a lot about why Don was such a huge fan of "The Duke."
Don was born in Breckenridge, MN, on May 27, 1931, one of seven children born to Alvin and Rose (Conzemius) Beyer. He graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1950 then began farming with his dad and brothers. In 1954, he entered the US Army and completed basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Shortly thereafter, he received a medical discharge from the Army and returned home.
On April 20, 1955, Don was united in marriage to Joan Banish at St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church in Cayuga, ND. The couple made their home on a farm near Brushvale. Don continued farming and was also a Northrup King and Betaseed Salesman. He and Joan were privileged to have taken many trips awarded him by the seed company including, Mexico City, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Philippines and Hong Kong. In 1985, they moved into Breckenridge, but Don still contributed to the work on the farm until he retired in 1991. At that time, the couple began to spend their winters in Mission, TX.
As the patriarch of his family, Don instilled the drive, ambition, and the work ethic it takes to be successful, to his children. He loved to laugh and shared his amusing sense of humor abundantly with friends and family. Don was an outdoor enthusiast and sportsman and looked forward to deer hunting both locally and in Canada. He enjoyed elk hunting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and many fly-in fishing trips to Canada. In later years, he joined the Senior Golf Tour in Mission, TX, where he played 18 to 27 holes a day until his health forced him to do less. Daily Mass and breakfast with friends, started every day in Texas. When golf was not on the schedule, Don was playing Whist, Pinochle, Smear, Texas Hold'em or simply just visiting with friends.
Don was an active member of the Wahpeton Eagles Club and St. Mary's Catholic Church. He was on the Board of Directors of the Wilkin County Crop Improvement Association, Farm Bureau, St. Mary's School Board, and served as a Connelly Township Supervisor. His family meant the world to him, and he treasured family gatherings when everyone could be together.
Don is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joan of Breckenridge; his children, Andrew (Marilyn) Beyer of Kent, MN, Cynthia Beyer of Littleton, CO; Cathy (Jim) Schultz of West Fargo, ND, Amy Beyer of San Antonio, TX, Anita (Kevin) Moxness of Medina, MN, Rose Beyer of Colorado Springs, CO, Patrick (Michelle) Beyer of Fargo, ND and Dean (Carly) Beyer of Breckenridge; his 22 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; his brother, Herbert (Marie) Beyer of Breckenridge; his sisters, Jo Haire of Battle Lake, MN and Marlene Malstrom of Detroit Lakes, MN; two sisters-in-law, Elaine Beyer of Ottertail Lake, MN and Marlene Beyer of Detroit Lakes, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
Don is preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Rose; his sons, Peter and Mark; his grandchildren, James Robert "J.R." and Jennifer Schultz; and his siblings, James and Robert Beyer and Dolores Fritz.
Please click on VIDEOS to watch a tribute to Don. The John Wayne clip didn't get played at his prayer service due to technical difficulties, but says a lot about why Don was such a huge fan of "The Duke."
Donald Philip Beyer
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