l retiring in November of 2017.
Merle was a member of the Shelby County VFW Post No. 941 and Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150. He was also a survivor of oral cancer since 2009. He enjoyed the outdoors with fishing, camping and boating. He was a big Nebraska Cornhuskers Fan. Most of all, Merle loved time spent with his family, playing with this children and grandchildren, and being with his love, Frances.
Merle died on Friday, January 5, 2018, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, attaining the age of eighty years, eleven months and one day. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Wilbert.
He is survived by his wife Frances Bettcher of Harlan, Iowa; children Tammy Garrison of Harlan; Terry Bettcher and his wife Holly of La Vista, Nebraska; Kris and her husband Mark Maxwell of Harlan; 8 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; sister Liane Bintz of Council Bluffs, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
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