Edward Betlach

Dr. Edward R. Betlach, 89, Bismarck, died October 1, 2003 at his home. Services will be held at 11:00 AM Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck with the Rev. Steve Sathre officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Saturday and 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Sunday at Boelter-Eastgate Funeral Service, 200 West Turnpike, Bismarck and one hour prior to the service at the church. Eddie was born October 24, 1913 at Pisek, North Dakota, the son of Ed and Ann Nyman Betlach. At the age of 10 his family moved to Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. Eddie married Dorothy Johnson on April 13, 1935 in Iowa. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Texas A&M University in 1940. Dr Betlach was then assigned to a brucellosis and tuberculosis eradication project in Watford City and Wahpeton and lived in Wahpeton from 1942 to 1948. In 1948 he was transferred to Mexico to take part in a joint United States-Mexican program to eradicate hoof and mouth disease from Mexico. His family moved to Bismarck in 1957 after Dr. Betlach completed his Administrative Training with the Federal Government. He retired in 1974 as the District Federal Veterinarian for the states of Montana and North Dakota. Eddie and Dorothy continued to live in Bismarck and enjoyed wintering in Florida and Arizona. Eddie was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church for over 46 years, the American Veterinarian Medical Association, National Association of Federal Veterinarians, National Association of Retired Federal Employees and the Elks Club. Eddie cherished his family and looked forward to their visits. He was a natural storyteller who loved to visit with everyone and he had a love for animals that continued throughout his life. Eddie is survived by his sons Doug and his wife Verona of Perham, MN and Rich and his wife LaRayne of Sauk Centre, MN; his daughters Lynette and her husband Jim Chamberlain of Clancy, MT and Gloria and her husband Clem Bobb of Elbert, CO; his grandchildren, Scott and his wife Jody, Tim and his wife Paula, Susan and her husband Kreig Turner, Carrie and her husband Amory Bodin, Holly and her husband Pat Blondin, Jennifer Betlach, Aundrea and her husband Mike Edwards, Chris and his wife Michele Fuller, Heather and her husband Jay Soleim, and Jolene and her husband Greg Hosman; fifteen great-grandchildren; two brothers Frank and his wife Ione and Ernie and his wife Mary Ann all of Blooming Prairie, MN; and two sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Lorrayn and her husband Ray Kubicek and Carol and her husband Truman Johnson all of Austin, MN. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy in 1992.

Edward Betlach

October 24, 1913 - October 1, 2003