Archie Herbert Bethke Obituary (1922

Archie Bethke, 92, New Salem, North Dakota, passed away Saturday September 20, 2014, at Elm Crest Manor, New Salem. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, September 26, 2014, at Salem United Church of Christ with Pastor Rose Trenbeath officiating. Burial will be in Bethel UCC Cemetery, rural New Salem. Visitation is scheduled for Friday 9:30 to 11:00 AM, at the church prior to the service. Archie was born July 18, 1922, at Judson, North Dakota, to Oscar and Margaret (Robinson) Bethke. He was raised on the family farm, southeast of New Salem and educated in a rural school. At the age of 13 he was baptized by total emersion as was the 7th Day Adventist custom. Helping on the farm and in the coal mine was his main occupation. In 1937 he started on the WPA Projects helping build the Judson hall. He was then transferred to the Almont crew in 1939, where he drove truck for road construction work. After Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the Navy in January 1942, where he served on an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. After his discharge he returned to the farm. He married Audrey Willman on September 29, 1948. In 1964 the family moved to Wisconsin where Archie worked as a welder at Kohler Company. In 1975 Archie and Audrey returned to the farm and remodeled the house. During this time he drove a mail truck for 10 years between Billings and Fargo. Archie's greatest love was his family, next to that was music and the accordion. He especially enjoyed the Lawrence Welk show. The Bethke Brothers band-Art on drums, Archie on Cordovox, and Billy on guitar, played for many anniversaries, parties, and birthdays. After Art's passing Archie and Billy limited their entertaining to Elm Crest on Valentine's Day. He served on the Farmers Union Oil station board, the Bethel Consistory, and the American Legion Post 91 firing squad. He is survived by his wife Audrey; one son, Larry Bethke, New Salem; two daughters, Rita (Larry) Silbernagel, Bismarck, and Sheila (John) Cook, Cedar Hill, Texas; six grandchildren, Ross (Bonnie) Van Ess, Shane Van Ess, Lynn Ann (Daniel) Werner, Andy Bethke, Eric (Lori) Johnson, Anissa Johnson; great-grandchildren, Monica, Nicholas, and Talon Van Ess; sisters-in-law Lillian Schneider, Margaret Thor, and Ruth Olin; and numerous nieces and nephews who were very special to him. Archie was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings, Hazel, Arthur, Esther, Dorothy, Henry, Albert and William.