Donald E. Beetler

Donald (Don) Edward Beetler, 97, of Altona, Illinois died peacefully March 10, 2025 in his home. He was born May 9, 1927 in Glasford, the fourth child of Fred Beetler and Louise Learned Beetler. He married Mary Frances Brown June 26, 1949 at Ontario Congregational Church, rural Oneida. They were married 67 years until her death in 2017. He is survived by four children, Dianne Beetler, Altona; Linda (LaMar) Bell, Oneida, David Beetler, Oneida, and Kathleen (Henry) Gondeck, Chillicothe. Don also is survived by six grandchildren, Bryan (Mallery) Bell, Medinah; Marla Bell, Oneida; Kyle Bell Aurora; Melinda (Kristian) Eriksen, West Dundee; Charleen Gondeck, Peoria; Corey Gondeck, Springfield; and three great-grandchildren, Caiden Bell, Aurora; and Eleanora and Emmett Eriksen, West Dundee. He also is survived by one sister, Barbara (Fred) Woldarski, Trivoli. He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Harold, Robert and J. Holland Beetler; three sisters, Rena Beetler, Ruth Broadfield, and Lois Mayer, one great-granddaughter, Kayla Bell, and one daughter-in-law, Deborah Beetler. He grew up in rural Yates City and graduated from Elmwood High School. In 1945-46, he served in the Guard Co. Headquarters and Battalion, 7th Service Regiment, First Marine Division of the U.S. Marine Corps and was stationed in Tientsin (now Tianjin) China. He worked for Caterpillar Inc. and Auto Sales Company in Brimfield before farming near Victoria, Oneida, and Altona for 45 years. Don was quietly generous, and very hard-working. He will be remembered for his sense of humor and his strong love for and devotion to his family. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM with a memorial service at 11:00 AM at the Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Homes & Crematory in Oneida. Rev. Terry England will officiate. Memorials may be made to the Greig Memorial Library in Oneida and AO&W Ambulance. On-line condolences and/or expressions of sympathy may be sent through www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald, please visit our floral store.