1927
George
2012
George Behl
September 3, 1927 — August 16, 2012
George Behl, 84 of Battle Lake died Thursday, August 16, 2012 at his home under the care of Lakeland Hospice.
George Elwood Behl was born on September 3, 1927 in Grand Forks, North Dakota the son of George C. and Alma (Dallum) Behl. He attended Washington Elementary School then continued his education at the Grand Forks Central High School. George entered the U.S. Navy serving during WW II, serving on a destroyer as a radioman, stationed out of China. After serving in the Navy, he enlisted in the National Guard; when the Korean War started he was called in with the Army Reserves, stationed at Ft. Rucker in Alabama serving a total of 12 years in Military Service.
George married Eileen Bushee on April 17, 1950 in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. After his return from the Navy, George began employment with Northern States Power (NSP) in their Grand Forks Steam Plant as a boiler man. In 1971, the family moved to Maynard and George worked as a boiler man in the Granite Falls Plant. In 1974 they moved to St. Cloud where he worked as a dispatcher until his retirement from NSP in 1987. He was a lifetime member of the VFW, the American Legion and was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He liked football, baseball, hockey, roller skating and was an avid bow hunter. George enjoyed his lake place with family, and especially enjoyed teaching his grandchildren how to water ski.
He is survived by his wife, Eileen; eleven children, Gregory (Lauren) Behl of St. Louis Park, Michelen "Mickie" (Al) Alfredson of Battle Lake, Joelle (Chuck Cooper) Behl of Clitherall, Ronald (Michele) Behl of Brooklyn Park, Mary (Dave) Hanson of Ottertail, Anne (Charles) Terwey of Battle Lake, Sara (Monty) Luhning of Ottertail, Joni (Donavon) Luhning of Battle Lake, George (Cindy) Behl of Wadena, Dennis (Lisa) Behl of Fargo and Dean (Melissa) Behl of Waite Park; one son-in-law, J.R. "John" Rankins of Bossier City, La.; thirty-eight grandchildren, Rachel, Christine, Jenni, Abby, Michelle, Miranda, Mara, Macy, Tracy, Jill, Mandi, Alicia, Ashly, Lynsey, Sadie, Isabelle, Octavia, Cassie, Karly, Brooke, Madison, Ed, George, Josh, Tony, Greg, Tim, Shawn, Will, Zach, Jared, Drew, Mike, Devin, Carson, Braiden, Levi and Ryan; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; one brother, David (Betty) Behl of Detroit Lakes; three sisters, Eleanor (Louie) Nelson of Burnesville, Muriel (Don) Folsom of Grafton, N.D. and Elaine (Robert) Hale of Baltimore, Maryland; sister-in-law, Shirley Behl of Fergus Falls, MN, and by many relatives and friends. George was preceded in death by his parents, George C. and Alma Behl; two daughters, Amy Theresa Behl and Marcie Rankins; one sister, Yvonne Johnson and by one brother, John Behl, three grandsons, Jesse Hanson, Gabriel Rasmusson, and George Behl; one great-grandson, Sutton Krutsinger.
Funeral Service: 11 am, Monday, August 20, 2012 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Battle Lake
Visitation: Sunday from 4 to 7 pm with a Prayer Service at 7 pm at the church
Clergy: Fr. Leroy Schik
Military Honors: Minnesota National Guard
Interment: Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Cemetery
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson of Battle Lake
George Elwood Behl was born on September 3, 1927 in Grand Forks, North Dakota the son of George C. and Alma (Dallum) Behl. He attended Washington Elementary School then continued his education at the Grand Forks Central High School. George entered the U.S. Navy serving during WW II, serving on a destroyer as a radioman, stationed out of China. After serving in the Navy, he enlisted in the National Guard; when the Korean War started he was called in with the Army Reserves, stationed at Ft. Rucker in Alabama serving a total of 12 years in Military Service.
George married Eileen Bushee on April 17, 1950 in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. After his return from the Navy, George began employment with Northern States Power (NSP) in their Grand Forks Steam Plant as a boiler man. In 1971, the family moved to Maynard and George worked as a boiler man in the Granite Falls Plant. In 1974 they moved to St. Cloud where he worked as a dispatcher until his retirement from NSP in 1987. He was a lifetime member of the VFW, the American Legion and was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He liked football, baseball, hockey, roller skating and was an avid bow hunter. George enjoyed his lake place with family, and especially enjoyed teaching his grandchildren how to water ski.
He is survived by his wife, Eileen; eleven children, Gregory (Lauren) Behl of St. Louis Park, Michelen "Mickie" (Al) Alfredson of Battle Lake, Joelle (Chuck Cooper) Behl of Clitherall, Ronald (Michele) Behl of Brooklyn Park, Mary (Dave) Hanson of Ottertail, Anne (Charles) Terwey of Battle Lake, Sara (Monty) Luhning of Ottertail, Joni (Donavon) Luhning of Battle Lake, George (Cindy) Behl of Wadena, Dennis (Lisa) Behl of Fargo and Dean (Melissa) Behl of Waite Park; one son-in-law, J.R. "John" Rankins of Bossier City, La.; thirty-eight grandchildren, Rachel, Christine, Jenni, Abby, Michelle, Miranda, Mara, Macy, Tracy, Jill, Mandi, Alicia, Ashly, Lynsey, Sadie, Isabelle, Octavia, Cassie, Karly, Brooke, Madison, Ed, George, Josh, Tony, Greg, Tim, Shawn, Will, Zach, Jared, Drew, Mike, Devin, Carson, Braiden, Levi and Ryan; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; one brother, David (Betty) Behl of Detroit Lakes; three sisters, Eleanor (Louie) Nelson of Burnesville, Muriel (Don) Folsom of Grafton, N.D. and Elaine (Robert) Hale of Baltimore, Maryland; sister-in-law, Shirley Behl of Fergus Falls, MN, and by many relatives and friends. George was preceded in death by his parents, George C. and Alma Behl; two daughters, Amy Theresa Behl and Marcie Rankins; one sister, Yvonne Johnson and by one brother, John Behl, three grandsons, Jesse Hanson, Gabriel Rasmusson, and George Behl; one great-grandson, Sutton Krutsinger.
Funeral Service: 11 am, Monday, August 20, 2012 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Battle Lake
Visitation: Sunday from 4 to 7 pm with a Prayer Service at 7 pm at the church
Clergy: Fr. Leroy Schik
Military Honors: Minnesota National Guard
Interment: Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Cemetery
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson of Battle Lake
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