Mildred "Millie" Elsie Besel

Mildred "Millie" Elsie Besel, age 99, of Saint James, Minnesota, died on January 16, 2026, at Temperence Lake Ridge in Sherburn, MN.

Visitation will be on Monday, January 26, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James and will continue on Tuesday from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at First Lutheran Church in Saint James.

Funeral Service will be held at First Lutheran Church in Saint James on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 11:00 AM.

The service will be live streamed on the First Lutheran Church Facebook page.

Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Saint James.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James. Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Mildred Elsie (Engelbrecht) Besel was born on March 27,1926 to Fred and Alice (Runge) Engelbrecht in rural St. James, Minnesota. Mildred attended a one room country school, District #51 for the first eight years of her education. She attended St. James High School, graduating in 1944 as Valedictorian. She participated in choir and orchestra, playing the violin. She went on to Mankato Teachers College using an accelerated program, going two summers and one full year to receive a 2-year teaching certificate. After teaching for five years in Watonwan County in one room country schools, she received a Life Certificate for teaching.

Mildred married Reinhart "Reiny" Besel on June 18th, 1950. (After marriage she resigned from her teaching position, as the teaching policy stated that a female teacher could not be married or teach in a district they graduated from). Mildred and Reinhart settled on a farm near Mountain Lake, Minnesota. In 1951 they moved to a farm south of St. James, planting their first corn with horses and a two-row planter and plowed with a two-bottom plow. They farmed at this site for 40 years concentrating on poultry and hogs as well as growing corn and soybeans. In 1990 they “retired” to a five-acre farm site, enjoying gardening, planting trees and picking apples. They lived at their retirement acreage for twenty-four years before moving to town in 2014, living at Homestead in St. James. Reiny passed away in 2016. Mildred lived at Homestead until 2020, when she moved into assisted living at Brandt Ridge in St. James. As her health needed more attention, Mildred moved in 2023 to Temperance Lake Ridge assisted living in Sherburn, Minnesota. Mildred lived at Temperance until her death, January 16, 2026. She was 99 years old, missing her 100th birthday by only 70 days.

Mildred was extremely active at First Lutheran Church in St. James as historian, Sunday School teacher, photographer, Bible study leader and other church committees. She and Reiny were very active in community activities. They received awards from the Farm Bureau for Outstanding Service as well as Outstanding Senior Citizen, Outstanding Farm Family and the Sertoma’s Service to Mankind Award. They were also active in the Pork Producers and 4-H organizations. They traveled to the east coast of the United States, California and Reiny’s home country of Germany where they visited his relatives. She also made two trips to Israel and one to Turkey.

Mildred enjoyed gardening and canning home grown produce and caring for many chickens and selling eggs. Her apple sauce and her rice dish were enjoyed by many families. She was known for her love of photography and documented many experiences of her church, family, friends and travels. She loved the seasons of change on the farm and garden, the planting, the harvesting and the tilling. She had a strong work ethic and by her example, always inspired her kids and grandchildren to do their best and keep a strong faith. She and Reiny had strong hearts of compassion and generously shared the blessings they received over the years.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Norma (Steve) Olson; sons, Richard (Kris) Besel, Kenneth (Wendy) Besel and Paul (Rhonda) Besel; 11 grandchildren, Kären (Josh) Larson, Michael (Sarah) Olson, Brian (Maggie) Olson, Kjirsten (Eric) Biers, Jon (Jen) Besel, Denae (Todd) Olsen, Dayn Besel, Kyra (Mike) Wirtz, Treva Besel, Tucker (Timmy) Besel, Mckenzie (Alex) Weis; 28 great-grandchildren, Luke (Kira) Besel, Colin Besel, Abraham Olson, Jack Larson, Oden Olson, Everett Olson, Ingrid Olson, Sylvia Olson, Kaleigh Besel, Ella Jungers, Xavier Olson, Bryce Biers, Elijah Olson, Carson Besel, Keenan Olson, Addie Biers, Halle Besel, Sam Olsen, Teddy Olson, Rylan Besel, Holly Olsen, Peyton Biers, Amery Olson, Rowan Weis, Oliver Wirtz, Calvin Wirtz, Emmie Weis, Liza Wirtz; sisters-in-law, Cynthia Engelbrecht and Elva Besel. Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Reinhart Besel; parents, Fred and Alice Engelbrecht; parents-in-law, Emanuel and Augusta Besel; brother, Norman Engelbrecht; brothers-in-law, Herbert Besel, William Besel, Gary Besel, Lyle Coleman; sisters-in-law, Mary Besel, Shirley Besel and Gertrude Coleman.