John F. Betchwars, age 75, of Jordan, MN passed away on February 17, 2024. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at St. John the Baptist Church, 313 2nd St. E, Jordan, MN. Father Neil Bakker will preside. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 9:30 – 11AM at church prior to mass. John will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery in Jordan.
John was born in Minneapolis on December 9, 1948 to parents Henry “Luke” and Luverne Betchwars, who lived in Hopkins at the time. Shortly after his brother Steve was born, the family moved to Jordan, back to where Luke and Luverne began their life’s journey. He attended both parochial and public schools in Jordan, playing football in high school.
After high school, he attended Winona State College for a year. Shortly thereafter, John purchased the Gold Spot Dairy in 1968, becoming one of the youngest business owners in Jordan at the time. Operating it with the help of his mother Luverne, the dairy store also served as a convenience store, offering limited grocery items along with a selection of dairy products. The Gold Spot also provided a place where kids, young and old, could drop their allowances on sodas, candy, and snacks, play pinball or a game of pool. It was during this same time that John became a volunteer member of the Jordan Fire Department. Having sold the store in 1977, he worked for a number of businesses, including Jordan Beverage as a delivery driver.
But his next stop would prove to be his passion, as he worked on the grounds crew at Hazeltine National Golf Course in Chaska. He was proud of his years at Hazeltine, including his involvement with the 1991 U.S. Open. Opportunity knocked in 1993 when he was hired as Superintendent for Creeks Bend Golf Course in New Prague. It was here where he helped the owners build the course, nurturing all 18 holes from start to finish. The man loved grass and he was proud of what had been accomplished. John retired in 2013.
John loved the game of golf and playing golf. He played countless rounds at a number of courses, none bigger than his rounds on the Monterey Peninsula including Pebble Beach. Another love of John’s was his 1969 Ford Grand Torino. Jet black with its gold c-stripes, many would agree that this car was indeed the love of his life. John also enjoyed traveling and camping. He, along with his brother Steve, traveled throughout the U.S. in his fifth wheel camper, along with campgrounds throughout Minnesota. Another interest of John’s was model railroading, in particular O-scale trains which Lionel made famous. He even went so far as to have a model railcar produced advertising Jordan Old Style Brew Beer. John was always a fan of the game of baseball, growing up a Yankees fan and later becoming a die-hard Cubs fan. But he truly enjoyed his days watching the Jordan Brewers town team play throughout his life.
