RODNEY “Rod” BETHEL
April 15, 1938 – November 11, 2010

Rodney “Rod” Bethel, age 72, a life long Park Rapids area resident, passed away on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at the Essentia Health Center in Fargo, North Dakota.
Rod was the seventh of eight children born to Pearl and Laura (Armbruster) Bethel on April 15, 1938 in Park Rapids, MN. He grew up and attended public schools in Park Rapids graduating from the Park Rapids High School with the Class of 1956. After graduating, Rod had several jobs before becoming a meat cutter/manager and subsequently owner of his own locker plant in Park Rapids, known as Morville’s/Rod’s Meats which he operated for 16 years. On June 6, 1959, Rod was united in marriage to Beverly Breezee in Nevis, MN. This union was blessed with two children: Tina and Mark. They have made their home in the Park Rapids area during their entire marriage. Rod was a man who wore many hats. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. His five grandchildren admired and looked up to him for all he taught them in life. In them, he instilled a love for the great out doors and his passion for hunting and fishing. He raised registered Quarter Horses and passed this joy in his life onto his children and grandchildren as well. Some of the hats he wore that represented some of his passions in life were that of archery, being a pilot, bowler, horseman, volunteer fire fighter, councilman and serving as the Mayor of Park Rapids from 1974-1976…as well as many others. Following in his own father’s footsteps, Rod fell in love with the family art of carving fish decoys. This hobby spread into all aspects of wildlife and caricatures. Rod was a man of faith and was an active member of the Wadena Church of Christ. Rod lived by the credo that there are three ways of doing things: the right way, the wrong way and Rod’s way.
Rod is survived by his precious wife for the past 51 years, Beverly of Park Rapids; his daughter, Tina (Robert) Melott; his son, Mark (Julie) Bethel; his five grandchildren: Cory, Carrie (Tyler Billig), Cassie (Casey) Dahl, Tonya Melott and Cole Bethel all of Park Rapids; his two sisters: Ruth Young of Park Rapids and Diane (Don) Balstad of Solway, MN; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Earl, Leo, and Lawrence; and two sisters: Marion and Lois.
Funeral services are set for 11 AM Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at the Church of Christ in Park Rapids with his brother-in-law, Minister Gary Simmons officiating. The casket bearers will be: Steve Clark, Doug Dickinson, Dean Cumber, Steve Johnson, Chuck Durnan, Charles Brauschweig, Casey Dahl and Tyler Billig. The honorary casketbearers will be his grandchildren: Cory Melott, Carrie Bethel, Cassie Dahl, Tonya Melott and Cole Bethel. Interment will be made in the Greenwood Cemetery of Park Rapids. Visitation will be held on Monday, November 15th from 5 to 8 PM at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home and on Tuesday at the church beginning one hour prior to the service. Following the service a luncheon will be held at the church for all.