By Patti Wilson Contributing Editor
Beth Klosterman and her family have thrown a wide loop for the cattle feeding industry in Nebraska.
Growing up mostly in David City, Beth married her high school sweetheart, John. The couple headed east to Virginia, where John was stationed in the Navy. Beth was armed with degrees in psychology and education, and taught middle school there until twin daughters arrived. Son Jack was born less than two years later. She laughed, saying she’d had a “litter of children.”
The family moved back home to Nebraska upon John’s release from the service. She served as a substitute teacher for David City Public Schools for nearly 20 years.
Beth and John farmed and fed cattle. She was often by his side, “trying to understand my husband’s arm-waving and hand signals while we were sorting cattle.” She loved everything about farm life, raising the kids there the way they chose. She says she had a “great partner to do it with.”
Her son, Jack Klosterman, is now in charge of the operation.
Beth has become accustomed to life in town, after her husband passed away two years ago. She enjoys spending time with all 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and doing volunteer work.
She serves as a trustee of the University of Nebraska Foundation and was the first woman president of the Nebraska Alumni Association. Her family has been long time supporters of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She reminisced fondly about her late husband. “John had a great sense of humor,” she remembers. “I had the pleasure of living for 63 years with a man I admired. John came up with great ideas and how to make them happen. He had the ability to bring people together to accomplish things.”
Beth’s family was a major donor to the UNL Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center near Mead. Ribbon cutting at the unit was held June 27th and included the entire family.
