Patty Bratton > Brother

      Beryl A’Dare Bratton arrived October 18, 1927, the first of seven children born to Leonard Eugene and J. Pearl (Johnson) Bratton. Dark haired, handsome, strong and smart, he was their first born son and they were always so proud of him.

Beryl completed his education in Douglas County public schools. He and his siblings grew up in the country where they learned to appreciate the outdoors, hunting, fishing and all water sports. He was a devoted son to his parents and the very best big brother.
Beryl joined the United States Merchant Marines and served on troop ships crossing the Atlantic. He was honorably discharged and returned to his parents’ farm near Holmes City. In 1948, Beryl met the woman he called “the most beautiful girl he had ever seen,” Dorothy Louise Gaulke of Wendell, MN, a classmate of his sister Bev at Morris Ag School.
They were married June 18, 1950. Beryl and Dorothy started married life in Sioux Falls, SD where their son Barry was born. They returned to Alexandria and added daughter Cindy to their family. Together they owned and operated the Viking Beer Gardens in Alexandria.
Beryl spent most of his life driving 18-wheelers and visited every state in the union. He started walking high steel in his 50s and worked circles around men half his age. Beryl and Dorothy lived in Alexandria until 1966 when they moved to Columbia Heights, MN.
In 1970, they moved to northern Minnesota near Bovey where Beryl was in the logging business. Beryl was a founding member and volunteer fireman, and served four years on the township board of Balsam Township. When their children both settled in Arizona, Beryl and Dorothy left Minnesota to be near their family.
Beryl was an avid collector of firearms and an award-winning marksman. He was a gifted orator with a wonderful memory for stories and poetry. A voracious reader, Beryl studied everything from history to archaeology. He also collected books, especially Louis L’Amour novels and read every one that was written. He loved a good joke, and for all his toughness would tear up unashamedly at a good sentimental movie, especially if children, heroes or dogs were involved.
He touched many lives and was always there for those who needed him. Beryl Bratton was an honest, loving, trusting, good hearted man. He will be forever missed by friends and family.
Beryl Bratton died Friday, August 5, 2011 with his wife of 61 years holding his hand as they walked together outside to get a breath of fresh air. He died standing tall and outdoors – the way he had lived most of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law Bill Weisel; brother Larry and wife Shirley Bratton; sister LaRae and husband Doug Barros; sister-in-law Toby Bratton; nephew Rick Barros; Dorothy’s parents Gust and Esther Bensch; brother-in-law Arnie Nelson; Dorothy’s sister and brother-in-law Delores and Harvey Lohse.
Beryl is survived by his wife Dorothy; son Barry and wife Elsa Bratton of McNeal, AZ; grandson Ben and wife Sara Bratton and great-granddaughter Sierra Jade Bratton of Sierra Blanca, TX; granddaughter Kelley (Bratton) and husband Cory Hickman of Springfield, OR; Elsa’s daughters Veronica of Charlotte, NC and her three children, Valerie of San Antonio, TX and her son, Itxel and husband Jason De Lucy of Ramstein AFB, Germany; daughter Cindy and husband Bernie Michael of Sahuarita, AZ; and grandson Paul Michael of Phoenix; brother Leonard Bratton Jr. (Judy Sayther) of St. Louis Park, MN; sisters Beverly Weisel, Patty (Roy) Wicken of Alexandria and Bonnie (Gregg) Soderberg of Las Vegas, NV; and many nephews and nieces who thought of him as their forever hero; sister-in-law Marlene Nelson and family; brother-in-law Les and Bette Bensch of Ashby, MN; and the five daughters of Harvey and Delores Lohse and their families; godson Matt Nelson and goddaughter Wendy Weisel.
Memorial services for Beryl were held Thursday, August 11, 2011 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Tim Poetter officiating. Military honors were provided by the American Legion and VFW.