Clarence Beste

Clarence B. Beste, age 74 of Sauk Centre, died peacefully with his family surrounding him, on Sunday, January 11, 2004 at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Rev. Todd Schneider will officiate with interment following in the parish cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Veterans prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home followed by parish prayers at 8 p.m.

Clarence Beste was born on May 23, 1929 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to William and Lucy (Jung) Beste. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. On April 14, 1954 he married Kathryn Deters at St. Alexius Catholic Church in West Union. They later divorced. He was a life long resident of Sauk Centre, where he was a farmer, school bus driver and also worked for CMC Elevator and Oil. He enjoyed fishing and hunting.

He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, where he was a former usher, and Bishop Busch Council 4863 Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of American Legion Post 67, Paul F. Donart VFW Post 2853, Sportsmen Club, Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited.

Survivors include five children, Jim (Linda) Beste, Joni (Pat Uhlenkamp) Imdieke and Jason (Cathy) Beste, all of Sauk Centre, Janet (John) Pastian of Hudson, Wisconsin and John Beste of Fairbanks, Alaska; nine grandchildren; three great grandchildren; sisters and brothers, Stella (Phil) Carroll of Columbus, Ohio, Wilfred (Jan) Beste of Sauk Centre, Viola (Bob) June of Westminster, Colorado, Lois (Ron) Johnson of Cloquet and Lillian "Pudge" (Connie) Kettler of Sauk Centre.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Jean Thang; brother, Ray Beste; sister, Evelyn Beste; granddaughter, Shanna Jacobs; and grandson, Michael Imdieke.

Serving as casket bearers will be Macorde and Nick Jacobs, Matt Imdieke, Jamie and Josh Beste and Luke Thang. Cross bearer will be Sarah Thang and gift bearers will be Kristi and Nikki Beste. Honorary bearers will be Jim Kane, Oscar Rueckert, Bud Minette, Joe Zehrer, Jerry Sogge, Virgil and Lee Kerfeld, Vern Beste and Conrad Kettler.