Moments in Time
Moments in Time is a weekly series featuring recollections of area residents. To suggest someone to feature in Moments in Time, please contact Mary Jane Grenzow, editor, at editor@themonroetimes.com.
MONROE - When Bill Bethke finds something to get involved with, he has a hard time walking away. Especially when that thing might include bettering the lives of local children. Don't let the lifetime career behind a desk at the bank fool you - Bethke is all about the parks, the programs and supporting youth activities in the community.
Bethke was born in Marshfield, but the family moved when he was just a few weeks old. He lived with his grandparents while his father served in the Army but eventually he began his education in Monona Grove. In third grade, the family moved to Rhinelander for about three years before moving to Appleton where he finished junior high. By the time he began high school, he was back in Monona Grove and graduated there in 1965.
The only child calls himself an average student, saying that he wasn't a big athlete. But the family lived across from Lake Monona, and he remembers spending lots of time on the boat and the lake, which he very much enjoyed.
After graduation, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and had dreams of becoming an architect. Soon Bethke realized that career wasn't for him - and decided instead to major in business. He was one of the first Eau Claire college students to gradate with a Business Administration Degree, since the program was just added.
"The job market was tough when I got out," he said. So he did some odd jobs after he married his wife, Elaine. He was taking any job available and eventually ended up working as a department manager for a large department store at West Towne Mall. He worked retail for three years, but the Christmas season was hectic and he began looking for other work.
Soon, Bethke landed a position at Anchor Bank in Madison as a mortgage loan officer and something clicked. It was a career he would stick with until his retirement six years ago.
Being a loan officer changed considerably over the years. What started off as an interview and some questions with a yellow legal pad turned into everything being done on computers, intense decisions about loaning money and lots more paperwork.
In 1976, Bethke transferred to a bank in Monroe, and his family came to check it out. Although he had been to Monroe for high school sporting events, he had never considered living here. That was the year Monroe was recovering from a huge ice storm; trees were down everywhere, and the town had no power.
He said his 4-year-old daughter looked at him and said: "Well Dad, the homes are still standing." And he agreed.
When Bethke got an opportunity to move to Commercial & Savings Bank, he took it. He received more training and was able to offer more loan types. Over the years, he worked at four different banks and retired from Wisconsin Community Bank (now Wisconsin Bank & Trust).
"I liked helping people buy their homes," he said. "The first home was always the most exciting for everyone. It can be very stressful."
He also served on the South Central Wisconsin Board of Realtors for 10 years, which gave him an extra edge on the job.
After more than 30 years working in the banking field, Bethke said he was ready to retire. And although his work life got less hectic, his involvement in Monroe would increase.
Bethke has served on the Park Board for 36 years and was president for 28 of them. When he first came to town, Mayor Cliff Reasa, who was on the Kiwanis Club with Bethke, asked him to join.
"It kept me going because I enjoyed being involved with the recreational things offered," he said. "It's all so important for a community."
His three daughters were active at the time, and Bethke helped coach their softball teams. He remembers choosing the color of brick to put on the new bath house for the swimming pool.
"To me, it's still the new pool," he said.
He said the development of new park areas around the community was also very important to him. During his time on the board, it added the water slides and lights at the tennis court.
"It's a real community effort," he said. "That's what I liked about it. One of the reasons I stayed on was because of the people involved. I talked of stopping several times but I never did because I felt so dedicated to it."
The North East Park had barely developed when Bethke got on the board, and now it has ball diamonds and a park shelter because of efforts from the community, he said.
Last year, he stepped down from the park board. Being retired had become busy work, and he thought it was time that new, younger blood take over.
"I allowed ideas to materialize," he said of his time on the board. "I saw myself as a facilitator of the people on the board."
He has also served on the Plan Commission for 29 years, not knowing it was part of the park board president's job at first, but he's stayed with it. The group reviews comprehensive planning and Bethke said great things are still happening for Monroe's development.
Being part of the Kiwanis Club and helping sponsor local parks really kept his ties together in Monroe. He remembers the disc golf course being put in at the park, Honey Creek Park developing, the Forest Prairie Dog Park becoming more developed and the Valley View Play Area coming to fruition.
"The little neighborhood parks are important too," Bethke said. "About each service club I've been involved with has included parks and kids," he said.
Bethke sees the importance of children having opportunity to be involved with sports, crafts, or anything that might interest them, and he's proud to have been a member of a board that's kept those things current.
He was also on the Jaycees when he first came to town and has spent time being involved with Cheese Days, serving as the secretary for a time in the late 1970s and early 1980s. When he resigned, he was offered a new position as the Porta Potty chairman - he jokes that job elevated him to a new level of skills. He chose the locations for and ordered the portable latrines for the festival and made sure they were serviced. Today, he has a beer stein mounted on a plaque with the title.
Bethke joined the curling club in 1977, and although he's stopped for short stretches, it's something he's always come back to. He curls in the men's league, and he and his wife used to be a part of a couple's league. This year, he opted out because of an injury.
"I enjoy the people," he said of curling. "I met lots of people that way."
His latest adventure and one that keeps him very busy is serving on the board for the Fowler Dental Clinic, located at the Green County Human Services building. The clinic serves children up to age 12 from families with little or no insurance. It began about five years ago with one dentist chair in a small area - today it has four chairs and the expanded office is able to do almost everything a regular dental office can.
Bethke's job is to help with fundraising and scheduling for the clinic. Dentists volunteer their time a half day a month on Fridays, and there is a core group who comes regularly. They also train dental hygienist students from Blackhawk Technical College there. Dr. Julio Rodriguez from Brodhead has been one of the driving forces along with 13 other dentists, including a pediatric specialist from Madison.
"For what we do with the time we have, we do a great job," he said. "I really applaud the dentists who work with these kids."
The clinic works with schools, including Head Start and the human services department. "I think it's a real necessity in this area," he said.
Bethke also serves as the president of the Monroe Fund. He said the fund offers grants to different groups as well as thousands of dollars worth of scholarships.
"It's a great vehicle for people wanting to do good," he said.
He's also an active member and treasurer of the Sons of Norway and is a charter member for the group that's about to celebrate 20 years. He's part Norwegian and loves to visit Norway. He and his wife have stayed with extended family in Norway while visiting and have now been close friends with them for 20 years.
"Every place you look is like a calendar picture," he said of Norway, noting that they love the easy-going style and laid-back culture of the Scandinavian country. "It's beautiful."
He loves to visit the northern Wisconsin cabin that's been in his family for six decades. He also enjoys time with family, including his parents, now in their 90s. He's happy to also spend time with their three grandchildren.
"I guess if I see good coming from (involvement), I like to stay with it," he concluded. "It's just my nature."
Bethke was born in Marshfield, but the family moved when he was just a few weeks old. He lived with his grandparents while his father served in the Army but eventually he began his education in Monona Grove. In third grade, the family moved to Rhinelander for about three years before moving to Appleton where he finished junior high. By the time he began high school, he was back in Monona Grove and graduated there in 1965.
The only child calls himself an average student, saying that he wasn't a big athlete. But the family lived across from Lake Monona, and he remembers spending lots of time on the boat and the lake, which he very much enjoyed.
After graduation, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and had dreams of becoming an architect. Soon Bethke realized that career wasn't for him - and decided instead to major in business. He was one of the first Eau Claire college students to gradate with a Business Administration Degree, since the program was just added.
"The job market was tough when I got out," he said. So he did some odd jobs after he married his wife, Elaine. He was taking any job available and eventually ended up working as a department manager for a large department store at West Towne Mall. He worked retail for three years, but the Christmas season was hectic and he began looking for other work.
Soon, Bethke landed a position at Anchor Bank in Madison as a mortgage loan officer and something clicked. It was a career he would stick with until his retirement six years ago.
Being a loan officer changed considerably over the years. What started off as an interview and some questions with a yellow legal pad turned into everything being done on computers, intense decisions about loaning money and lots more paperwork.
In 1976, Bethke transferred to a bank in Monroe, and his family came to check it out. Although he had been to Monroe for high school sporting events, he had never considered living here. That was the year Monroe was recovering from a huge ice storm; trees were down everywhere, and the town had no power.
He said his 4-year-old daughter looked at him and said: "Well Dad, the homes are still standing." And he agreed.
When Bethke got an opportunity to move to Commercial & Savings Bank, he took it. He received more training and was able to offer more loan types. Over the years, he worked at four different banks and retired from Wisconsin Community Bank (now Wisconsin Bank & Trust).
"I liked helping people buy their homes," he said. "The first home was always the most exciting for everyone. It can be very stressful."
He also served on the South Central Wisconsin Board of Realtors for 10 years, which gave him an extra edge on the job.
After more than 30 years working in the banking field, Bethke said he was ready to retire. And although his work life got less hectic, his involvement in Monroe would increase.
Bethke has served on the Park Board for 36 years and was president for 28 of them. When he first came to town, Mayor Cliff Reasa, who was on the Kiwanis Club with Bethke, asked him to join.
"It kept me going because I enjoyed being involved with the recreational things offered," he said. "It's all so important for a community."
His three daughters were active at the time, and Bethke helped coach their softball teams. He remembers choosing the color of brick to put on the new bath house for the swimming pool.
"To me, it's still the new pool," he said.
He said the development of new park areas around the community was also very important to him. During his time on the board, it added the water slides and lights at the tennis court.
"It's a real community effort," he said. "That's what I liked about it. One of the reasons I stayed on was because of the people involved. I talked of stopping several times but I never did because I felt so dedicated to it."
The North East Park had barely developed when Bethke got on the board, and now it has ball diamonds and a park shelter because of efforts from the community, he said.
Last year, he stepped down from the park board. Being retired had become busy work, and he thought it was time that new, younger blood take over.
"I allowed ideas to materialize," he said of his time on the board. "I saw myself as a facilitator of the people on the board."
He has also served on the Plan Commission for 29 years, not knowing it was part of the park board president's job at first, but he's stayed with it. The group reviews comprehensive planning and Bethke said great things are still happening for Monroe's development.
Being part of the Kiwanis Club and helping sponsor local parks really kept his ties together in Monroe. He remembers the disc golf course being put in at the park, Honey Creek Park developing, the Forest Prairie Dog Park becoming more developed and the Valley View Play Area coming to fruition.
"The little neighborhood parks are important too," Bethke said. "About each service club I've been involved with has included parks and kids," he said.
Bethke sees the importance of children having opportunity to be involved with sports, crafts, or anything that might interest them, and he's proud to have been a member of a board that's kept those things current.
He was also on the Jaycees when he first came to town and has spent time being involved with Cheese Days, serving as the secretary for a time in the late 1970s and early 1980s. When he resigned, he was offered a new position as the Porta Potty chairman - he jokes that job elevated him to a new level of skills. He chose the locations for and ordered the portable latrines for the festival and made sure they were serviced. Today, he has a beer stein mounted on a plaque with the title.
Bethke joined the curling club in 1977, and although he's stopped for short stretches, it's something he's always come back to. He curls in the men's league, and he and his wife used to be a part of a couple's league. This year, he opted out because of an injury.
"I enjoy the people," he said of curling. "I met lots of people that way."
His latest adventure and one that keeps him very busy is serving on the board for the Fowler Dental Clinic, located at the Green County Human Services building. The clinic serves children up to age 12 from families with little or no insurance. It began about five years ago with one dentist chair in a small area - today it has four chairs and the expanded office is able to do almost everything a regular dental office can.
Bethke's job is to help with fundraising and scheduling for the clinic. Dentists volunteer their time a half day a month on Fridays, and there is a core group who comes regularly. They also train dental hygienist students from Blackhawk Technical College there. Dr. Julio Rodriguez from Brodhead has been one of the driving forces along with 13 other dentists, including a pediatric specialist from Madison.
"For what we do with the time we have, we do a great job," he said. "I really applaud the dentists who work with these kids."
The clinic works with schools, including Head Start and the human services department. "I think it's a real necessity in this area," he said.
Bethke also serves as the president of the Monroe Fund. He said the fund offers grants to different groups as well as thousands of dollars worth of scholarships.
"It's a great vehicle for people wanting to do good," he said.
He's also an active member and treasurer of the Sons of Norway and is a charter member for the group that's about to celebrate 20 years. He's part Norwegian and loves to visit Norway. He and his wife have stayed with extended family in Norway while visiting and have now been close friends with them for 20 years.
"Every place you look is like a calendar picture," he said of Norway, noting that they love the easy-going style and laid-back culture of the Scandinavian country. "It's beautiful."
He loves to visit the northern Wisconsin cabin that's been in his family for six decades. He also enjoys time with family, including his parents, now in their 90s. He's happy to also spend time with their three grandchildren.
"I guess if I see good coming from (involvement), I like to stay with it," he concluded. "It's just my nature."