Obituary
Jerry “Squirrel” Eugene Bettesworth
Jerry “Squirrel” Eugene Bettesworth passed away peacefully April 14, 2025, after a courageous battle with brain cancer. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him for his continuous smile, generous heart, and willingness to help others. Friends and family would also describe him as being a passionate conversationalist and having a great sense of humor.
Jerry was born on September 13, 1950, to Ralph and Doris Bettesworth in Charles City, Iowa and later moved to Raymond, Iowa. When Jerry was eleven, his family moved from Iowa to the existing family farm in Ettrick, Wisconsin. He attended Gale-Ettrick High School and graduated in1968. After high school, he worked with his dad doing carpentry, until the United States Army drafted him on August 28, 1970. Jerry completed his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri before being deployed to Frankfurt, Germany. While serving in the military, Jerry was a heavy vehicle driver and later chosen to be his camp commander’s personal driver. Jerry was honorably discharged on August 28, 1972.
After serving two years in the army, Jerry returned to Ettrick and worked as a truck driver for Olson Concrete Block, a carpenter for John Allen Construction, a laborer at the Fibrite Company, as well as a laborer at Corn and Howe Construction. Jerry lastly worked as a laborer for Mathy Construction, until he retired in 2009. After retirement, Jerry worked seasonal work for Allied Coop and Halderson Artic View Farms.
On October 23, 2004, he married Varene Johnson at The Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. In Jerry’s free time, he enjoyed tractor pulling with his brother Larry, working on his 1970 Chevy SuperSport, truck pulling with his longtime friend Pete McKeeth, and doing farm work on the family farm, especially when he could be driving any one of his John Deere tractors he fixed, refurbished, or overhauled.
Jerry is survived by his wife Varene Bettesworth, step-children JayDee Johnson, Taylor (Leah) Johson, daughter-in-law Amy Johnson, siblings Connie (William) Deubel, Bonnie Pledger, Jeannie Bettesworth, Danny Bettesworth, James (Lori) Bettesworth, Terri (Leighton) Fritz, Sandra Bettesworth, Linda (Aaron Bailey) Bettesworth, grandchildren Kaia Johnson, Maybellene and Jolene Johnson, Brynn Johnson, Torin and Drake White-Bergy, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Preceded in death are Jerry’s parents Raplh and Doris Bettesworth, brother Larry Bettesworth, stepson Mike Johnson, and brother-in-law Micheal Pledger.
A memorial service will be held for Jerry at The Gathering Place, 133 Mason Street, Onalaska, WI from 3-5 p.m. on Monday April 21, 2025. A service will begin at 4:30, followed by full military honors at 5:00 by the Onalaska American Legion Post 336. A dinner will follow military honors in the Gathering Place. In honor of Jerry’s love for John Deere tractors, please wear green, gold, or something John Deere.
I’m sorry to read this. I got the know Squirrel while I worked at the gas station(Citgo/BP) in Holmen. It was funny in the morning he and some of his co-workers would come in for morning coffee and the bantering that went on in there was great. Even though I haven’t see Squirrel for a long time will miss his humor. Prayers to all of the family.