Gerald (Jerry) Thomas Betthauser, age 90, of Tomah, WI, died on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at the Serenity House in Tomah. He was born on May 29, 1936, to Louis and May (Linehan) Betthauser of Indian Creek, WI, at the family farm.
Gerald graduated from Tomah High School in 1955. He left the area to find employment and worked briefly in Madison as a welder before finding employment in Waukesha at Wisconsin Centrifugal Foundry Inc. After 15 years, he began driving truck for A & A Trucking Company in Waukesha for 3 years, and then was employed by Godfrey Company, which later became Fleming Corporation as a semi-driver, retiring in 1999.
In 1957, he married Carol Jean Klug, and they were blessed with three sons; Mark (Connie Jones) of Mauston, WI, Christopher (Leslie), and Steven (Sarah) both of Waukesha; along with 8 grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren.
After his retirement, Jerry and Carol moved to Tomah where Jerry has been active at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and with the Knights of Columbus, as well as being a lifelong member of St. Michaels Catholic Church at Indian Creek. Gerald has been a devoted “gentleman” farmer for many years, finding the peace and enjoyment of working the land and providing produce to his family and friends.
Gerald is survived by his wife, Carol; sons; grandchildren; great grandchildren; brother, Daniel; and sisters, Rita Olson, and Therese (Richard) Schuh of Tomah; along with many cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Mary Weiss and Roseann Langer; and brothers-in-law, Burdette Langer, Douglas Olson, and Loren Weiss.
Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Michaels Catholic Church, Indian Creek. Father Yesuprabhu Balraj will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the church, with a parish rosary to be held at 9:30 a.m. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
A special thank you from Jerry’s family to the staff at Tomah Health and Hospice Touch for their compassion and care of Jerry in his final days.
In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a tree in memory of Gerald, or donations are encouraged to Hospice Touch in Tomah.
Torkelson Funeral Home
