John Lee Bethel, 72, Minot died on Thursday, December 24, 2009 in a Minot hospital.

John was born on February 28, 1937 in St. Louis, MO to John F. and Patricia (Reeves) Bethel. He was reared and educated in St. Louis and graduated from Hadley Vocational Technical High School in 1955. He entered the U.S. Air Force in October of 1955 and served until his retirement in 1981. While serving in the USAF he was stationed in MT, TX, Morocco, IL, Okinawa, England, TX, Vietnam, England, Minot, Korea, Omaha and again at Minot Air Force Base from 1976 until his retirement as a Master Sergeant in 1981. They made their home in Minot following his retirement.

John married Barbara Potter on August 30, 1969 RAF Woodbridge, England. Following his retirement from the U.S. Air Force he was self employed in the construction industry for fifteen years before being employed at Vending Express from 1997 until 2001.

John was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Minot and he especially enjoyed traveling, reading and fishing.

John's loving family includes his wife of 40 years Barbara; son: Karl (Sheila) Bethel of Ray, ND; one grandson: Charles of Prague, OK; three step grandsons: Devin Tomlinson of Minot and James Tomlinson and Larry Crevier of Ray, ND; sisters: Claire (Luther) McKinney of Herculeum, MO, Dorothy Stevenson of Wheaton, WY, and Mary (Bob) Porter of Olathe, KS; mother-in-law: Doris Potter of Bedford, England; sister-in-law: Patricia (Martin) Higgins of Oxted, England; brother-in-law: Luther McKinney of Herculeum, MO and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

John was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter, sister: Claire McKinney; brother-in-law: Wade Stevenson and father-in-law: Harold Potter.

Service: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in Our Savior Lutheran Church - Minot.
Interment will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery - rural Mandan.
Booksigning: Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Little Hands Loving Hearts Child Development Center at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Faith United Methodist Church Food Pantry or the donor's choice.