Robert was 77 when he passed away at Clare Bridge Cottage in LaCrosse. Born to James and Hattie Bestul.
Robert showed strong interest in music and scholarship from an early age. He graduated as valedictorian of the Scandinavia Union Free High School class of 1947. In 1951, Robert completed his bachelor's degree at Central State College in Stevens Point, with a major in history and minors in music and mathematics.
He served the U.S. Army as a signal company radio operator stationed in Berlin, Germany from 1951-1953, where his musical skills were readily applied to tapping out Morse code.
Upon completing his military service, Robert began his lifelong career in education at Almond High School in Almond, WI, where he taught history, chorus and band.
There he met Lola Abbott, to whom he was married on June 9th, 1956.
Early in his career, Robert attended summer classes at Vander Cook College of Music in Chicago, IL, from which he earned a master of music education degree in 1957. Robert and Lola's endeavors focused on cultivating music and fine arts in their community, with Robert teaching high school and junior high band and Lola providing piano and vocal lessons. The couple sang throughout the years in church choir, with Robert directing and Lola acting as a frequent soprano soloist. They shared this lifetime devoted to music with their three children in Spring Green, Wisconsin Dells and Viroqua. Robert finished his teaching career in Viroqua, which remained the couple's home in retirement. Robert was a soft-spoken, steadfast educator, remembered by many for the hours of preparation he devoted to assuring that his lessons were always ready and the band's performances were always polished. Similar dedication and selflessness characterized his contributions to church and community. Former students often recall the band room's simple tag-board posters, on which Mr. Bestul had neatly written principles and aphorisms he wanted to impart; one of these was "Strive for perfection," a piece of advice to which he was always faithful. In retirement, Robert and Lola continued their participation in community music and fine arts events. The couple also enjoyed travel to Europe, especially Norway, and locations around the United States. Robert leaves behind two daughters and son-in-laws, a son and daughter-in-law, five grandchildren, and mother-in-law. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lola; granddaughter, Abigail Torkelson; grandson, Benjamin Torkelson; father-in-law, Milton "Bud" Abbott; father and mother, James and Hattie Bestul; and his sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Harold Kahler. Funeral services will be held on Jan. 6, 2007, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Viroqua. Burial in the Scandinavia Lutheran Church Cemetery in Scandinavia, WI.
Robert showed strong interest in music and scholarship from an early age. He graduated as valedictorian of the Scandinavia Union Free High School class of 1947. In 1951, Robert completed his bachelor's degree at Central State College in Stevens Point, with a major in history and minors in music and mathematics.
He served the U.S. Army as a signal company radio operator stationed in Berlin, Germany from 1951-1953, where his musical skills were readily applied to tapping out Morse code.
Upon completing his military service, Robert began his lifelong career in education at Almond High School in Almond, WI, where he taught history, chorus and band.
There he met Lola Abbott, to whom he was married on June 9th, 1956.
Early in his career, Robert attended summer classes at Vander Cook College of Music in Chicago, IL, from which he earned a master of music education degree in 1957. Robert and Lola's endeavors focused on cultivating music and fine arts in their community, with Robert teaching high school and junior high band and Lola providing piano and vocal lessons. The couple sang throughout the years in church choir, with Robert directing and Lola acting as a frequent soprano soloist. They shared this lifetime devoted to music with their three children in Spring Green, Wisconsin Dells and Viroqua. Robert finished his teaching career in Viroqua, which remained the couple's home in retirement. Robert was a soft-spoken, steadfast educator, remembered by many for the hours of preparation he devoted to assuring that his lessons were always ready and the band's performances were always polished. Similar dedication and selflessness characterized his contributions to church and community. Former students often recall the band room's simple tag-board posters, on which Mr. Bestul had neatly written principles and aphorisms he wanted to impart; one of these was "Strive for perfection," a piece of advice to which he was always faithful. In retirement, Robert and Lola continued their participation in community music and fine arts events. The couple also enjoyed travel to Europe, especially Norway, and locations around the United States. Robert leaves behind two daughters and son-in-laws, a son and daughter-in-law, five grandchildren, and mother-in-law. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lola; granddaughter, Abigail Torkelson; grandson, Benjamin Torkelson; father-in-law, Milton "Bud" Abbott; father and mother, James and Hattie Bestul; and his sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Harold Kahler. Funeral services will be held on Jan. 6, 2007, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Viroqua. Burial in the Scandinavia Lutheran Church Cemetery in Scandinavia, WI.
Robert was 77 when he passed away at Clare Bridge Cottage in LaCrosse. Born to James and Hattie Bestul.
Robert showed strong interest in music and scholarship from an early age. He graduated as valedictorian of the Scandinavia Union Free High School class of 1947. In 1951, Robert completed his bachelor's degree at Central State College in Stevens Point, with a major in history and minors in music and mathematics.
He served the U.S. Army as a signal company radio operator stationed in Berlin, Germany from 1951-1953, where his musical skills were readily applied to tapping out Morse code.
Upon completing his military service, Robert began his lifelong career in education at Almond High School in Almond, WI, where he taught history, chorus and band.
There he met Lola Abbott, to whom he was married on June 9th, 1956.
Early in his career, Robert attended summer classes at Vander Cook College of Music in Chicago, IL, from which he earned a master of music education degree in 1957. Robert and Lola's endeavors focused on cultivating music and fine arts in their community, with Robert teaching high school and junior high band and Lola providing piano and vocal lessons. The couple sang throughout the years in church choir, with Robert directing and Lola acting as a frequent soprano soloist. They shared this lifetime devoted to music with their three children in Spring Green, Wisconsin Dells and Viroqua. Robert finished his teaching career in Viroqua, which remained the couple's home in retirement. Robert was a soft-spoken, steadfast educator, remembered by many for the hours of preparation he devoted to assuring that his lessons were always ready and the band's performances were always polished. Similar dedication and selflessness characterized his contributions to church and community. Former students often recall the band room's simple tag-board posters, on which Mr. Bestul had neatly written principles and aphorisms he wanted to impart; one of these was "Strive for perfection," a piece of advice to which he was always faithful. In retirement, Robert and Lola continued their participation in community music and fine arts events. The couple also enjoyed travel to Europe, especially Norway, and locations around the United States. Robert leaves behind two daughters and son-in-laws, a son and daughter-in-law, five grandchildren, and mother-in-law. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lola; granddaughter, Abigail Torkelson; grandson, Benjamin Torkelson; father-in-law, Milton "Bud" Abbott; father and mother, James and Hattie Bestul; and his sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Harold Kahler. Funeral services will be held on Jan. 6, 2007, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Viroqua. Burial in the Scandinavia Lutheran Church Cemetery in Scandinavia, WI.
Robert showed strong interest in music and scholarship from an early age. He graduated as valedictorian of the Scandinavia Union Free High School class of 1947. In 1951, Robert completed his bachelor's degree at Central State College in Stevens Point, with a major in history and minors in music and mathematics.
He served the U.S. Army as a signal company radio operator stationed in Berlin, Germany from 1951-1953, where his musical skills were readily applied to tapping out Morse code.
Upon completing his military service, Robert began his lifelong career in education at Almond High School in Almond, WI, where he taught history, chorus and band.
There he met Lola Abbott, to whom he was married on June 9th, 1956.
Early in his career, Robert attended summer classes at Vander Cook College of Music in Chicago, IL, from which he earned a master of music education degree in 1957. Robert and Lola's endeavors focused on cultivating music and fine arts in their community, with Robert teaching high school and junior high band and Lola providing piano and vocal lessons. The couple sang throughout the years in church choir, with Robert directing and Lola acting as a frequent soprano soloist. They shared this lifetime devoted to music with their three children in Spring Green, Wisconsin Dells and Viroqua. Robert finished his teaching career in Viroqua, which remained the couple's home in retirement. Robert was a soft-spoken, steadfast educator, remembered by many for the hours of preparation he devoted to assuring that his lessons were always ready and the band's performances were always polished. Similar dedication and selflessness characterized his contributions to church and community. Former students often recall the band room's simple tag-board posters, on which Mr. Bestul had neatly written principles and aphorisms he wanted to impart; one of these was "Strive for perfection," a piece of advice to which he was always faithful. In retirement, Robert and Lola continued their participation in community music and fine arts events. The couple also enjoyed travel to Europe, especially Norway, and locations around the United States. Robert leaves behind two daughters and son-in-laws, a son and daughter-in-law, five grandchildren, and mother-in-law. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lola; granddaughter, Abigail Torkelson; grandson, Benjamin Torkelson; father-in-law, Milton "Bud" Abbott; father and mother, James and Hattie Bestul; and his sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Harold Kahler. Funeral services will be held on Jan. 6, 2007, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Viroqua. Burial in the Scandinavia Lutheran Church Cemetery in Scandinavia, WI.
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