Richard Beutler, 85, of West Point, died Monday, October 12, 2026 at Wakefield Health Care Center.  Funeral service will be 10:30am on Saturday, October 17 at Stokely Funeral Home in West Point with Rev. Robert Schilling officiating.  Burial with Military Honors will be at Bancroft Cemetery with lunch following at the Bancroft Community Center.  Visitation will be Friday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Stokely Funeral Home and continue on Saturday one hour prior to the funeral.  Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.  Arrangements by Stokely Funeral Home.

Richard was born on April 25, 1941, to Clarence Emil Sr. and Gertrude (Kindschuh) Beutler. He grew up in the Bancroft area and was baptized on June 1, 1941, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bancroft, where he was later confirmed on May 1, 1955. He remained a lifelong member of the church.

Richard joined the United States Army Reserve in 1959 at the age of 19 and was honorably discharged on August 31, 1964. On June 2, 1963, Richard married Kathy Jean Johnson at First Christian Church in Onawa, IA. The couple made their home on the family farm northwest of Bancroft, where they raised their three children, Connie, Penny and Larry.

Richard farmed for 30 years, raising crops and livestock on the family farm. He took particular pride in raising and showing cattle and pigs. Richard also had a lifelong love of horses and was an excellent horseman. He was a member of the Bancroft Saddle Club and was well known throughout the area for his ability to ride, train and break horses. His talent with horses earned him quite a reputation. On one memorable occasion, when Bobby Kennedy came to the sale barn in Norfolk to purchase a horse, Richard was selected to ride and showcase the horse in the arena because he was considered one of the best horsemen around.

After retiring from farming in April 1994 and moving to West Point, Richard began a second career as a truck driver. He first drove for Pee Wee Bargmann of Bancroft before joining TSL in Omaha, where he spent the remainder of his trucking career. He hauled overseas shipping containers throughout the country, traveling from Denver to Chicago and Arkansas to North Dakota.

Richard took great pride in his work and was an exceptionally safe and dedicated driver. Throughout his career, he received numerous awards and recognitions from TSL, including nine years of recognition from the American Trucking Associations for accident-free and safe driving, two President’s Safe Driver Club pins, and an award for 11 years of accident-free and citation-free driving. By the time he retired at age 74, Richard had driven well over a million miles and was working toward his second million.

While Richard took pride in farming, his horses and his trucking career, his greatest devotion was always to his family. When Kathy suffered a stroke, Richard retired from trucking and became her caregiver. He remained faithfully by her side, providing the love, patience and care she needed. Throughout their 63 years of marriage, Richard was a devoted and caring husband.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy; children, and their families

Daughter, Connie Sebourn of Columbus

• Tiffany (Eric) Christenson – Emma, Miles and Bentley

Daughter, Penny (Allen) Haase of Bancroft

• Greg Haase (Laura Petersen) – Easton
• Melissa Redding (Matt Phillips) – Savannah, Koby, Hunter, Brody, and Evey
• Lindsey (Josh) Wiechmann – Hunter, Peytyn, Reagan and Jentry

Son, Larry (Jill) Beutler of Bancroft

• Breanna Monroe – Jarron and Leah
• Erin (Brandon) Greve – Lane, Weston and Dawson
• Levi Beutler
• Dylan Beutler
• Megan Beutler
• Logan Beutler

along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence Sr. and Gertrude Beutler; brothers, Clarence Beutler Jr. and a stillborn brother; son-in-law, Ron Sebourn; brother-in-law, Charles “Mike” Johnson; sisters-in-law, Jeri Johnson, Norma Beutler and Joan Beutler; and parents-in-law, Charles and Dorothy Johnson.