June 13, 1931-May 5, 2012
SLAYTON - Services for Willard "Will" Beers, 80, of Slayton will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church in Slayton. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. today at the church and one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial will be private. Military honors accorded by the Lake Wilson American Legion Post. Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangements.
He died Saturday, May 5, 2012, at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.
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Will Beers was born June 13, 1931, in Lake Wilson to William and LuBertha (Natte) Beers. Will grew up in Lake Wilson and graduated from Lake Wilson High School in 1949. Will worked as a printer's devil for the Lake Wilson Pilot. On Aug. 9, 1950, Will entered the United States Air Force as an Airman Basic, training first at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and then at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was then moved to his permanent base, Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., as a buck sergeant in the Crash Rescue Squadron. On July 5, 1951, he and Darlene Petree were married in Luverne. Following his honorable discharge on Aug. 20, 1954, Will returned to Lake Wilson and to the Lake Wilson Pilot. They later moved to Slayton and raised their three children. Will worked for a short time at the Marshall Independent before starting at the Murray County Herald in 1958 as a linotype operator. In 1978 Will purchased the Wheel Advertiser and in 1985 added the Murray County Herald. He was presently the publisher and editor of the Murray County Wheel/Herald in Slayton. In 1960 Will and Darrel Schreier started the Little League Baseball program in Slayton
He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Slayton. He also was a member of the American Legion in Lake Wilson. In his younger days Will played Football, Basketball and Baseball. Will has been involved in the newspaper business nearly all of his life starting at the Lake Wilson Pilot at the age of 9. Will enjoyed spending time with his family.
Survivors include his wife, Darlene Beers of Slayton; three children and their spouses, Dennis and Julie Beers of Slayton, Randall and Karen Beers of Slayton, and Terry Ann Beers of Wayzata; nine grandchildren, Ryan Beers, Adam and Katie Beers, Laura Beers, Katrina Beers, Jonah and Lacy Beers, Marissa and Ryan Baker, Travis and Aretia Senenfelder, Trent and Alicia Senenfelder, and Tracy and Ashley Senenfelder; four great-grandchildren, Russell, Will, and Thomas Beers and Griffin Senenfelder; two sisters and one brother and their spouses, Catherine Banning of Rapid City, S.D., Art and Julia Beers of Paramount, Calif., and Rosie and Marvin Bruxvort of Edmond, Okla., and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, infant son, Edward, grandson, Luke Beers, and three brothers, Edward, Kenneth, and Barney Beers, and two sisters, Grace Vande Brake and Nancy Penoyer.