Merlin J. Beseman

96 years of life, 70 years of marriage, 4 children, 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren (and one on the way)—this is the legacy of Merlin Beseman, a loving husband, father, grandpa, and great grandpa, (aka Grandpa Grandpa). 

 Merlin was born on February 26, 1928, in Fargo, North Dakota to Anna and Gust Beseman. He grew up in Crosby, Minnesota. In 1945, at age 17 he joined the Navy and served for three years. He served on the USS Elkhorn, USS Kaskaskia, and US Naval Air Station in San Diego, California. 

 After attending Dunwoody Institute for tool and die, Merlin worked at Honeywell from 1952-1967. He met Marion Gillund while both worked at Honeywell, and they were married in 1954. After having their first child, Marion quit work to be a full-time mother and homemaker. They raised their family in Fridley, Minnesota.  

 In 1966, together with partner, Ron DeVriendt, Merlin founded Top Tool Company. Merlin and Ron worked both at Honeywell and Top Tool for a year before leaving Honeywell in 1967 to focus on the new company. They started the business in Minneapolis, but eventually built a building in Fridley. They sold the business and Merlin retired in 1987. Top Tool celebrated 50 years in business in 2016 and then was acquired by Cirtec Medical LLC in 2017.

 Merlin and Marion provided a wonderful lake life for the family, starting with a small cabin on Blackhoof Lake in Crosby. Later they built a home on Rabbit Lake in Crosby, where they eventually retired. Merlin would fish on Rabbit Lake when he was a kid and always dreamed of one day living on the lake. Weekends were filled with swimming, fishing, water skiing, tubing, mini-biking, playing games, and campfires. 

 Merlin had a well-developed hobby of woodworking throughout his life starting with a cedar chest he built in shop class in high school. Over the years he built things for the family including furniture, fireplace mantels, children’s furniture, bookcases, and bedroom sets. He made over 600 jar openers with his unpatented and clever design. He did projects for his church in Crosby including baptism chests, and with the help of his brother Dan, a new altar for the sanctuary.

 Merlin’s lasting legacy is his family which he loved, cared for, and generously supported in every way. It has been the privilege of his children to care for him in the past years as he cared for them throughout their lives. 

 Survived by his family, whom he loved dearly and valued above everything, including his loving wife Marion; children Karen (Dave) Hughes of Coon Rapids, MN, Annette Beseman of Blaine, MN, Mike (Katie) Beseman of Elk River, MN, and Paul (Jamie) Beseman of Blaine, MN; grandchildren Eric (Sahira) Hughes, Amy Hughes, Heather (Ron) Carlson, Carly (Ryan) Crawford, Ben (Laura) Beseman, Kallie Beseman (fiancé Deven Sunell), and Blake Beseman; great grandchildren Bryce Hughes; Nevaeh Hughes; Elysia Paugh; Summit, Valor, Caliber & Cedar Carlson; Cade & Callen Crawford; Genevieve & Waylon Beseman; brother Dan Beseman and sister Peggy Beseman, both of Crosby, MN. 

 Preceded in death by parents Anna and Gust Beseman; sisters Joy Willford, Jackie Gordon, and Laverne Holmvig. 

 Thank you to the staff of Personal Care Senior Living and the Hospice of the Midwest Care Team for their loving care as Merlin prepared to enter his eternal home with Jesus.

 Visitation will be held July 16, 6-8pm at Miller Funeral Home, 6210 Hwy 65 NE, Fridley, MN. Celebration of Life on July 17 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 61 Mississippi St NE, Fridley, MN (visitation at 11am, service at 12pm, luncheon at 1pm). 

 Memorials appreciated in lieu of flowers to either of Merlin’s church homes: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Crosby, MN or Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fridley, MN.

 “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”   1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NIV)