Cletus F. Bettinger, age 87, of Coldwater, Ohio, died Thursday, April 6, 2017 at Briarwood Village, Coldwater.

Clete was born February 5, 1930 in Coldwater, to the late Arthur & Regina (Hemmelgarn) Bettinger. He married Norma Frantz on July 21, 1956 at St. Marys Catholic Church, Greenville, Ohio, and she died November 24, 2011.

He is survived by a son, Mike & Cathy Bettinger of Coldwater, a daughter, Lisa & Dave Albers of Midland, Michigan, a daughter in-law Judy Bettinger of Coldwater, ten grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers and sisters, Maguerite Griesdorn of St. Rose, Grace Rutschilling and Carl & Ruth Bettinger, all of Coldwater and in-laws, Rita Bettinger of St. Henry, Marlene Bettinger of Coldwater, Barb Bettinger of Coldwater, Peg Bergman of Ft. Recovery, Pat & Jerry Bruggeman of Greenville, and Norb & Jackie Frantz, Jr. of Union City, Indiana. 

He was preceded in death by a son, James Bettinger, siblings: Bob Bettinger, Paul & Angie Bettinger, Herman Bettinger, William Bettinger, LaVern Bettinger, Clarina & Serf Lefeld, Lucille & Harold Bergman and Mary Ellen Bettinger, and in-laws: Cletus Griesdorn, Paul Rutschilling, Melvin & Emerita Bergman, Martha & Ted Kunkler and Millie Lee.  

He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Coldwater, where he was a Mass server for funerals and distributed Communion to the homebound. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict from 1951-1953, and a member of Coldwater V.F.W. #5135 and its firing squad, Coldwater American Legion #470, the Museum of the Soldier, Portland. Clete was a member of the F.O.E. and the Knights of Columbus in Coldwater, and was an avid bowler and gardener, and loved getting together with his family. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 10, 2017 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Coldwater. Burial with military rites will follow at St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater, Ohio. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday and from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Monday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home-Coldwater.

Memorials may be directed to the donor's choice.

Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.