Alois "Al" Beste

Alois A. “Al” Beste, age 93 of Freeport, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Monday, September 29, 2025 at the CentraCare Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:30 a.m. Monday, October 6 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating and Deacon Ernie Kociemba assisting. Entombment will be in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday and from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. The Freeport Fire Department will pray the Rosary at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon at the church.

Alois Anton Beste was born April 1, 1932 in Freeport, Minnesota to Henry and Regina (Haselkamp) Beste. He attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and graduated from Melrose High School. Al served in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1957. He was united in marriage to Marjorie Mae “Margie” Illies on December 30, 1957 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa, Minnesota. Al owned and operated Freeport Roller Mills/Famo Feeds in Freeport.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport where he served as an usher and Eucharistic Minister. He was also a member of the Freeport Fire Department, Freeport Lions Club, Albany Telephone Association, and Community Care of Freeport. Al enjoyed farming and was an avid vintage car and tractor collector.

Survivors include his children, Jane (Craig) Pixley of Eden Prairie, John (Yvonne) Beste of Freeport, Tom (Norma) Beste of Crosslake, and Joan (Karl) Klaphake of Spicer; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Lois (Phil) Williams.

Al was preceded in death by his wife, Margie Beste on February 4, 2022; parents; brothers and sisters, Ulric Beste, Emmeline Beste, Regina Beste, Mary Beste, Eleanor Beste, Julitta Beste, Francis Beste, Bill Haselkamp, and Clara Klobe; and in-laws, Fr. Wilfred Illies, Donald Illies, James Illies, and Lillian Illies.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport.