The Life of Walter W. Beseler
Born: February 9, 1944
Died: December 27, 2005
Parents: Walter Albert and Emma Beseler
Siblings: Harriet, Carol, Janice, and Alice
Children: Brian, Aaron, and Erika
Walter Beseler was born on February 9, 1944, in Bismarck, North Dakota, the fifth child and only son of Walter Albert and Emma Beseler.
He was raised on a farm outside of Hazelton, North Dakota and farmed with his father for years. He graduated from Hazelton High School in 1962. He first attended Bismarck State College, working on a Chemistry degree. From there, he went to North Dakota State University on a football scholarship, but left to attend Valley City State University after being injured. He then graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from VCSU. Walt would go on to receive Master’s Degrees in both Chemistry and Educational Administration.
He taught in many different schools, in the areas of chemistry and the physical sciences, before ending up at Hazelton High School. It was then, when he was 31 years old that he met Maxine Alfreda Grove. They began dating and later got engaged on February 13, 1976, and were married on June 19, 1976. Maxine and Walt both taught at Hazelton High School and lived on the Beseler family farm.
Walt & Maxine began their own family on May 3, 1978 when Brian Walter Beseler was born in the hospital in Bismarck. Aaron William Beseler was born on April 3, 1980, and Erika Lynne Beseler, the light in her daddy’s eyes, was born on July 12, 1983, completing the trilogy of Beseler kids.
In 1986, the family moved down to Yuma, Arizona, where Walt and Maxine both taught school, Walt in physics and chemistry, and Maxine in music. While in Arizona, Erika became involved in the early stages of Girl Scouts while Walt got Aaron and Brian involved in Boy Scouts. Walt served as a Den Master of Cub Scouting until both boys became Boy Scouts, and then transferred to an Assistant Scoutmaster position with their local troop. Walt took the boys on camping trips, rock climbing, hiking, and introduced them to hunting for the first time, hunting doves outside of Yuma. The family then moved back to North Dakota, to a little town named Cando, in 1992.
Walt began his career in educational administration at that time. After leaving Cando, the family moved to Dickinson, where he remained in administration at Trinity High School. Brian graduated from Dickinson High School in 1997 and Aaron graduated from Trinity High School in 1998. Walt, Maxine, and Erika lived for a short time in Golden Valley, North Dakota, before moving to Mandan. Erika graduated from Mandan High School in 2001 and joined Aaron at North Dakota State University that fall. Maxine and Walt divorced in 2003, the same year that Brian married Lisa Roller and expanded the clan. Walt taught at Fort Yates Public High School until his retirement from education at the age of 60. Then on April 6, 2004 Walt’s granddaughter, Meghan Lynette Beseler, was born to Brian and Lisa.
In January of 2005 Erika got engaged to Joel Thompson of West Fargo, North Dakota. The two were married on December 17, 2005, in West Fargo at Faith Lutheran Church. Walt wasn’t able to attend, but was in everyone’s thoughts that day as Brian and Aaron walked Erika down the aisle. On the 18th, the day after the wedding, Erika and Joel went to the hospital in her dress and his suit so Walt could see his baby girl. He gladly welcomed Joel into the family as Aaron, Erika, and Joel went through the pictures and videos of the wedding with him. Nine days later, at 3:22 AM on December 27, 2005, Walter William Beseler passed away.
Walt is survived by Maxine Beseler, his wife of 26 years, his son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Lisa Beseler of Dickinson; granddaughter, Meghan Beseler; son, Aaron Beseler of Fargo; son-in-law and daughter, Joel and Erika Thompson; four sisters and three brothers-in-law, Carol Burgett of Franklin, Tennessee, Harriet and Ruben Humann of Hazelton, North Dakota, Janice and Darmo Santanen of Hazelton, North Dakota, and Alice and Norman Delzer of Mandan, North Dakota; and seven nephews and four nieces.
Walt was an amazing man, a dedicated educator, a loyal friend, and a loving father and brother. He had many passions, including hunting, fishing, camping, scouting, playing cards, and reading. He touched the lives of many, and will be remembered and missed by all who knew him.
