Rev. Vernon L. Bettermann

EAST PEORIA- Rev. Vernon L. Bettermann, 74, of East Peoria, passed away on June 21, 2016, from complications due to ALS. He was born on July 2, 1941, to Lillian (Hartfiel) Bettermann and Clarence Bettermann in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, and was raised on the family farm near Parkers Prairie, Minnesota. He attended Concordia College, St. Paul, and Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. He married his “best girl,” Ruth Kleinschmidt, on August 8, 1964, in Brainerd, Minnesota. In May of 1967, he graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, with his Master of Divinity degree. Rev. Bettermann, fondly known as “Vern” and “Pastor B,” was ordained as a pastor of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod on July 2, 1967, and received his first call to Zion Lutheran Church in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where he was installed on July 16, 1967. During his time in Guthrie, Vern also served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserves. He was privileged to serve in Oklahoma until called to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in East Peoria, Illinois in 1971. He served there from December 5, 1971, until his retirement in 2004. In his 32 years at St. Peter’s, Vern ministered and shared the good news of the Gospel with love, humility, and a hefty dose of humor and common sense. He was grateful every day for the people and the family God had given him. During his time in East Peoria, Vern served the church and the community as circuit counselor, chaplain to the Illinois State Police, and a member of the Rotary Club. He also served as a chaplain to the U.S. Air Guard, and was honorably discharged at his retirement after achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He loved his time in the military, and delighted in sharing the love of Jesus Christ with his fellow guard members and supporting them in their times of need. Vern loved traveling, reading, singing along (badly) to country music, a good joke, and horseback riding. He was tireless in his love and dedication to his wife and his daughters, Tracey and Wendy. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Ron Bettermann. Vern is survived by his wife, Ruth, and his two daughters, Tracey (James) Wetzstein of Gary, Indiana, and Wendy (Roger) Arnold of Madison, Wisconsin; grandsons Gabriel Wetzstein, Evan Arnold, and Charlie Arnold; his brothers and sisters, Gene Bettermann, Larry (Sue) Bettermann, Don (Carol) Bettermann, Doreen Bettermann, Muriel Lusso-Quiggle, Jim (Raynee) Bettermann, Deanna (Jim) Evens, Randy Bettermann, and Alice Gergen. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, June 27, 2016, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in East Peoria, Illinois, with Pastor Kurt Mews, presiding minister, and The Rev. John Sproul, preacher. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 26, 2016, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Building Fund. Interment will be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria. Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in East Peoria is assisting the family with arrangements. Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Let us remember with thanksgiving what God has done through His servant, Vernon L. Bettermann. Vern’s memorial website is available at www.deitersfuneralhome.com, where online condolences may also be sent to the family.

Rev. Vernon L. Bettermann

July 2, 1941 - June 21, 2016