Berend J. "Bj" Voute

Berend J. "BJ" Voute, age 63 of Princeton, MN, passed away from metastatic melanoma on October 21, 2025, at his home. Memorial Services will be held Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Princeton. Chaplain James Neppl will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
Berend Jan "BJ" was born to Reinier Edmund Voute and Leida Tamboer on April 10, 1962, in San Antonio, TX. He served his country honorably in the U.S. Army for 25 years. BJ was a helicopter pilot for North Memorial Air Care. He married Jody (Flatland) Beckrich on October 10, 2025, in Princeton. BJ was a member of the NRA and the Isanti Sportsmen Club, and he was a firearms instructor. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle, camping, and guns and was an avid ham radio operator.
BJ began his Army career in 1985, piloting the AH1 Cobra attack helicopter in Korea. He served at Fort Rucker, AL, as an instructor/training officer. BJ joined the MN National Guard in 1996 and piloted the AH1 (instructor pilot), UH1, OH58, and UH60 Blackhawk until his retirement from the Army in 2007 as a CW4. His awards include Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal 3rd Award, Army Achievement Medal 3rd Award, and Master Aviator Wings.
BJ is survived by his wife, Jody; step-children, Chris (Kala) of Princeton and Julia (Carlos) Gonzalez of New Hope; grandchildren, Cole, Courtney, Calvin, Cora, Joshua, and Alexandra; mother, Leida Tamboer of Heemstede, Netherlands; siblings, Sebastiaan Jeroen Voute of Haarlem, Netherlands, Gijsbrecht Pieter Voute of Hoofddorp, Netherlands, and Reinier Alexander Voute of Deerfiled, WI; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Livestream Link for Service on Saturday, November 15:
https://www.youtube.com/live/o3JGkPcl7dk?si=YWYonuksinYkOtBv