Martin Betow

Martin A. "Muxie" Betow, age 80 of Sauk Centre, died Wednesday, February 13, 2008 surrounded by his family at his home following a long battle with MDS.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 16 at Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre. Rev. Marty Porter will officiate with interment following in Unity Cemetery in Getty Township.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Martin Betow was born April 14, 1927 in Getty Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to William and Minnie (Buchholz) Betow. On August 31, 1955 he married Rose Schmidt at the church parsonage in Freeport, Minnesota. The couple farmed in Getty Township, on the Betow family farm, until retiring in 1981. They moved to Sauk Centre in 1986.Martin was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and served for many years on the Unity Cemetery Board. He looked forward to visiting the farm and driving tractor. He also enjoyed playing cards, shaking dice, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Rose Betow of Sauk Centre; children and grandchildren, Steve (Deb) Betow and Triniti of Eden Prairie, Ron Betow of Minneapolis, Mark (Bonnie Petermeier) Betow of Sauk Centre, Deb Betow (Bruce) Swezey of Clinton, Linda (Dale) Merten and Jeff and Paul of Onalaska, Wisconsin, Karen (Tom) Banal and Matthew, Christopher, and Danielle of Sauk Centre, Marilyn (Alan) Latzka and Leah, Brandon, and Emily Petermeier and Jake and Tommy Latzka of Sauk Centre; sisters, Alice Gritzmacher of Sauk Centre, Mabel Peterson and LaVerne Berglund, both of St. Paul.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Albert, Willard, and Robert Betow, infant brother, Myron Betow and infant sister, Rosceil Betow; sister, Ruth Nathe.

Serving as casket bearers will be Hal Gritzmacher, Craig Peterson, Bruce Berglund, Dennis Steil, Dan and Gerard Spieker. Honorary bearers will be his goddaughters, Paula Gritzmacher McVey and Sandra Flaherty.