Kenneth Leroy Bettermann

Memorial Service: https://vimeo.com/994118585

Tribute Video: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/F9NQ9FR59P4BDGTF

Kenneth LeRoy Bettermann (Kenny), age 84½ of Moorhead, MN, died Tuesday, July 31, at Ecumen Evergreens of Moorhead, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Kenny was born and raised on the family farm, west of Garfield on November 21, 1939, to Henry and Irene (Zieglemann) Bettermann. He graduated from Brandon High School in 1957. Following in his older brothers’ footsteps, he enlisted in the Army and completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He was in the reserves until 1961 and lived in Minneapolis, and worked in construction. There, he met his neighbor, Roberta Ann Adams (Bobbie), and love quickly bloomed. They were united in marriage on October 27, 1961, and made their home in Brooklyn Center, MN. In November, he was called back into active duty as the Cuban Missile Crisis was gearing up. He went to Fort Lewis, WA, and while there, their only child, Brian Alan was born. Kenny was on the tarmac to defend our country when the treaty was signed. After his honorable discharge, he and Bobbie stayed in Brooklyn Center until 1988, when they built their home on the lake in Battle Lake, MN, and later moved into town in 1994. Bobbie passed away in 2010. Kenny remained in Battle Lake until 2021 when he moved to Fargo to live with Brian and Marietta. In April 2023, he went into memory care at Ecumen.

Kenny’s passion for baking was discovered in the Army, and after his discharge, he managed Lunds Bakery and was on the team that created English Muffin Bread, so when you enjoy your next slice, please keep him in your thoughts. He retired from Lunds and tried to enjoy retirement, but missed the bakery and went to work for Metz bakery and then the bakery at SunMart in Fergus Falls until he retired “for real”. His faith was unwavering, and he was a man of strong convictions and traditional views. He and Bobbie were avid gardeners, collected Department 56 Snow Villages, enjoyed traveling, going to the casino for the buffets, hunting, snowmobiling, and especially fishing. Open water or ice, he loved them both. He was even fishing from his bed a couple of weeks ago for Walleyes and sharing the best way to remove Y bones from Northerns.

Kenny will be greatly missed by his son, Brian (Marietta) Bettermann, Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Brittney Bettermann, Twin Cities, MN, Tiffany (Levi) Schulze, Wanamingo, MN, Matthew (April) Kirschenmann, Fargo, ND, Katie (Andrew) Hatfield, Elkins, WV, and Jessa Kirschenmann, Fargo, ND; four great-grandchildren, Hope, Timothy and Jonathon Hatfield, and Wyatt Kirschenmann; siblings, Willie Bettermann, Janet Slater, Evie (Dave) Nordstrom, and Diane (Rich) Strong; and multiple nieces and nephews who meant the world to him.

He was preceded in death by his wife Bobbie; parents, Irene and Henry Bettermann; siblings, Delores (Carl) Buse, Arlene (Richard) Buse, Donny Bettermann, Harry (Joyce) Bettermann, LaVerne (Kenny) Wussow, and Lester (Wanda) Bettermann; sister-in-law, Hilda Bettermann; and brother-in-law, Jim Slater.

The family would like to thank the staff at Evergreens, and especially Hospice of the Red River Valley for their care and support in Kenny’s last weeks. If you would like to honor Kenny, please consider a donation to Hospice of the Red River Valley ( www.hrrv.org ) or Heroes Compass ( www.heroescompass.com ), a non-profit dedicated to empowering heroes in the community, including military veterans, police officers, firefighters and first responders as Kenny fully supported veteran and Christian organizations.