Donald "Budger" L. Beasley

Donald L. “Budger” Beasley, of Maynard, died on Thursday, May 6, 2004 at the Chippewa County - Montevideo Hospital at the age of 88.

Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, May 10, 2004 at 11:00 AM at the Maynard Lutheran Church with Rev. Mary Leigh Boyd Hovland officiating.  Interment will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday afternoon and evening, with the family from 6 - 7:30 PM and with a prayer service at 7:30 PM  at the Anderson Funeral Home in Montevideo.

Donald L. “Budger” Beasley was born on January 30, 1916 in Crate Township of Chippewa County, MN to Floy and Catherine (Marholz) Beasley. He attended School in District 57 and Maynard Public Schools.  He was inducted into the US Air Corps on May 20, 1943.  He served with the 100th Bomb group as an aerial gunner.  He flew in support of D-Day in June of 1944 and on his 17th mission over Germany his plane was shot down, leaving him the only survivor.  He was captured and served 10 months as a POW.  He was discharged on October 22, 1945 after being awarded the Purple Heart among many other medals for his service.  On June 3, 1952 he was united in marriage to Pearl Mayer in The Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, NV.  Following their marriage they moved to Willmar, MN, where he owned and operated Madsen’s Café for 3 years.  He moved his family to California where he worked at a correctional institution until 1963 when he moved his family back to Minnesota.  He settled in Maynard where he owned and operated Budger’s Dinnerhouse until retiring in 1980 and his son, Bill, took over the business.  He was a member of Maynard Lutheran Church and served on the parsonage board for several years.  He was actively involved in the Lions Club and American Legion in Maynard.  In October of 2000 he became a resident of the Clara City Care Center due to Alzheimer’s disease.  He loved his family and was a super grandpa and great grandpa.  He will be missed leaving many fond memories in the hearts of his family.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Pearl; children: Richard (Linda) Mayer of Sugar Grove, IL, Brenda (Lon) Levitz of Alexandria, MN, Donna Docken of Clara City, MN and Bill (Lorri) Beasley of Maynard, MN; 10 grandchildren: Michael ( Maggie) Mayer, Ellen (Ken) Janda, Diane (Jack) Christiansen, Kristy and Marty Levitz, Ryan Docken, Kathryn (Wes) Ziehl, and Jessica, Sara and Dana Beasley; 8 great-grandchildren: Brittany, Nate, and Anna Mayer, Jackie Christiansen, Jennifer Janda, Alexis and Desteny Levitz and Jackson Ziehl; and two sisters: Velma Gereaux of Willmar, MN and Catherine (Jim) McGekee of Hemet, CA.

He was preceded in death by his parents.