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Duane C. Belseth

FAIRMONT — Duane C. Belseth passed away Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. A celebration of life for Duane will be held 2-5 p.m. Sunday, July 17, at the Fairmont Trap Club, 913 280th Ave., Fairmont, with some members of the trap club shooting off his ashes. Burial will be Tuesday, July 19, at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

Duane Carl Belseth was born Jan. 25, 1936, in Mason City, Iowa, to Kenneth and Susie (Beisel) Belseth. Graduating from Mason City High School in 1954, Duane went on to attend Mason City Junior College for two years earning a teaching degree. Duane obtained his B.A. degree in 1958 from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and a M.A. degree in Fine Arts in Greeley, Colo. Duane moved to Fairmont where he taught elementary art for 30 years. He was well known for his yearly art shows. And many of his students were featured in the Northwestern Life Insurance calendar contest. He always encouraged his students to “Think Big.” Duane went to junior high with his future wife, but they didn’t start dating until they were juniors in high school. They were married Aug. 12, 1956, and had three children: Terry, Lynn and Lori. In the early 70’s, Duane packed up his family and spent the summers working as a program director for the Boy Scout camps in Wisconsin, Colorado and Michigan. While at one of the camps, he was accepted into the Order of the Arrow. After the Boy Scout summer job was done, Duane took up painting houses in the summer and later added interior wall papering and painting. Besides teaching, Duane had many interests; hunting, fishing, trapping, camping and trap shooting. If you had a few hours to spare he would be more than happy to tell you all about his adventures. Duane was a life-long member of the Conservation Club, Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited. He was on the church council and served as an Elder for St. John’s UCC in Fairmont. He served as a board member for Martin County Humane Society, only retiring last year. In his later years, Duane was instrumental in getting the Fairmont Trap Club going. He was frequently out there mowing, trimming and painting, along with planting trees and bushes. When Duane retired they traveled settling down in Punta Gordo, Fla., where they were snowbirds for many years. Due to Duane’s illness they were in the process of selling. He is left to be remembered by his wife of 66 years, Marilyn; daughters, Lynn (Harold) Boeset, and Lori Belseth; extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Terry; and brother, Eugene.

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