by Scott DCamp
Reporter
Thief River Falls resident Gretchen Beito has been chosen as Pennington County’s Outstanding Senior Citizen for 2015. Beito will be recognized during the Senior Citizen Program at 1:30 p.m. in the Tri Valley Bus Garage at the Pennington County Fairgrounds.
“There are many who are more deserving,” said Beito, who was reluctant to accept the honor. “I appreciate the fair. I don’t think there is anything that shows the goodness of rural life better than the Pennington County Fair. I’m glad to be a part of it this year.”
Beito is a Minneapolis native and 1953 graduate of Minneapolis-Washburn High School. She attended St. Olaf University for two years before transferring to the University of Minnesota, where she graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1957. It was at St. Olaf that Beito met her future husband, Gene.
Beito taught third grade for one year in Jacksonville, Fla., while Gene was in the Navy. She also taught part time in Minneapolis and Gonvick while living in those communities.
Beito moved to Thief River Falls in 1960, when her husband became vice president of Northern State Bank in Thief River Falls. That same year, the Beitos welcomed their first child, son David. They also had two daughters, Kathryn Beito and Laura Wong.
In addition to a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Beito received Master of Arts degrees in history and English from the University of North Dakota in 1982.
Since 1960, Beito has an active volunteer in the area schools. She started Art Adventure in Elementary Schools and continues to be involved after 40-plus years. She served on a variety of school committees, including the Girls Sports Committee that paved the way for high school girls volleyball and basketball to be added at Lincoln High School in the 1970s. She has also served as a Girl Scout Leader; Cub Scout Den Mother, Sunday School teacher, Great Books leader; and various Church youth committees from 1967-1987 at Zion Lutheran Church.
“I think that a committed group of people can make a difference and I think that we have,” Beito said.
In 1984, Beito co-founded the Northwest Minnesota Math-Science Workshop for Girls and in 1986, she co-chaired the event.
Beito said the best part of volunteering and being part of various groups and committees is working with friends.
Beito is a long-time member of the Sons of Norway Snorre Lodge in Thief River Falls. She’s a founding member of the Thief River Falls branch of the American Association of University Women.
Beito has been a member of the GFWC Zelians since 1975 and she is proud to have headed up the River Walk Committee from 1987-1997.
Beito worked with the Thief River Falls Ministerial Association to get one representative from each church to serve on a committee to form a childcare center. The group formed Discovery Place, which was founded in 1971 and was originally based at Redeemer Lutheran Church. She served on the committee from 1971-76
Beito was a member of Mrs. Jaycees from 1960-71; She served on the Northwest Regional Library Board from 1974-80; School District 564 Education Foundation Board from 1994-98; the Valley Home Board since 2012, when she replaced her husband Gene; and since 1998, she has served as the Secretary of the Beito Foundation, which has a mission to improve the quality of life for people that live in Thief River Falls and the surrounding area.
At the state level, Beito has served on the Minnesota Library Development Council from 1982-1988; American Association of University Women Minnesota Board from 1992-1996, serving as editor of Minnesota Pine”; University of Minnesota Extension Service Advisory Council from 1991-1994; and Minnesota Historical Society, on the Executive Council from 1994-2003, and the Grants Committee from 1994-2003.
Beito is also an accomplished author with eight books published, including the critically acclaimed “Coya Come Home.” She has also written several books that focus on the artwork of Thief River Falls resident Inez Mostue.
“I like pulling together ideas and words,” Beito said. “Writing uses all of the resources that I have.”
Beito has received numerous awards and recognition for her years of volunteering and community service.
In 1968, she received the Outstanding Young Woman award from the TRF Mrs. Jaycees.
In 1985, she received the Woman of Honor award from AAUW.
In 1986, the Minnesota Education Association awarded Beito the Friend of Education award.
In 1987, she received the TRF Business and Professional Women Woman of the Year award.
In 1988, she received the Service to Libraries Award from the Northwest Regional Library.
In 1990, the University of North Dakota awarded Beito the Alumni Achievement Medal.
In 1993, Beito received the Jeanette Fair Literary Award from Delta Kappa Gamma, Tau State.
In 1996, Beito received the TRF Centennial Commission’s Celebrate Rivers Award.
Beito was inducted into the Northwest Minnesota Women’s Hall of Fame in 2000.
The Beito family was recognized as a Pennington County Pioneer Family.
In 2001, Beito was recognized as a Library Visionary; and in 2012 a bronze statue in honor of Beito was placed at the Thief River Falls Public Library.