Reverend Norman Emil Betke, 83, of Gladwin, Michigan passed away on Thursday, July 27, 2017. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 30, 1934 the son of Edward & Marie “Mary” (Kutzke) Betke. On May 11, 1958 he was united in marriage to Doris Doloris Dommer in Colusa, California. They celebrated 58 wonderful years together before she predeceased him in 2016.
Norman was a Lutheran Minister living in Gladwin County (Sherman Township) since 1996 when he returned to spend his retirement years on the family farmstead on Oberlin Road. He was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church of Gladwin, former Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church of St. Ansgar, Iowa (25 years) and Grace Lutheran Church of Fayette, Iowa.
In a sermon given on the day of his formal retirement from the Ministry, Norman said –“Stay with the Word my friends. Don’t give up the truth of Holy Scripture, the inspired and inerrant Word of God that brings the Gospel to you. And as you remain faithful to our faithful Lord, you and I hear this promise and it’s tied up with this perfect retirement. He says, “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.” It is the Father’s good will to choose you and me to be His very own, to enjoy His perfect retirement, to reveal Jesus to us as our Savior and Lord. The Holy Spirit does that through the Word and now we come and we find our rest in Him. For His burden is light. His yoke is easy. When a candidate is ordained into the ministry, as I was many years ago…a stole is ordinarily placed upon the shoulders of the candidate. It’s a symbol of the yoke. Jesus says, ‘My yoke is easy.’ I’m going to put down that yoke as a pastor now, but you and I both continue to wear the yoke of Christ for it’s an easy one. It’s one of peace, of grace, of joy, of forgiveness now and forever. That’s God’s perfect retirement. May you always and ever enjoy it. The Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent one from another for Jesus sake. Amen.”
During his retirement years Norman enjoyed spending time visiting with his many friends and family in person or long distance via email, Bible Study, fishing, playing German music on his button box accordion, violin, and banjo, raising his ‘birds’ (chickens, geese, ducks, guinea fowl, peacocks), he was known to enjoy daily Kaffestunde (coffee hour) and always value Gemutlichkeit (warm cordiality; comfortable friendliness; congeniality).
His memory will be forever cherished by his daughters: Rebecca (Mark) Schoepp of Gladwin; Rachel Betke Mena of Yuba City, California; Ruth (James) Sandridge of Gladwin; Katherine Betke of Gladwin. His children blessed him with10 beautiful grandchildren: Holly, Christy, Stephen, Sarah, Timothy, Theodore, Jenica, Isaac, Samuel and Gideon; 12 precious great grandchildren and many nieces & nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife: Doris Betke; son in-law: T.J. Mena; 1 brother: Ernest Betke. Funeral Services will be conducted by Pastor James Krach on Sunday, August 13, 2017, 2:30 P.M., with visitation beginning at 1:30 P.M. at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gladwin, Michigan. The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 12, 2017 from 6-8:00 P.M. at Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home, Gladwin, Michigan.
He will be laid to rest at Highland Cemetery, Gladwin, Michigan. Those wishing to send an expression of sympathy in lieu of flowers are asked to consider Our Savior Lutheran Church, The MOSH group at Our Savior Lutheran Church or Concordia Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. www.hallkokotovichfuneralhome.com
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