Brian Lyle Bestul

Brian Lyle Bestul, age 74, a resident of Albert Lea, Minnesota, and originally of Northwood, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 8:25 p.m. at the Mayo Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Brian was diagnosed with Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia in February of 2025 and was participating in a CMML trial with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Last week his diagnosis changed to AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) when the leukemia quickly invaded his organs.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at Hoff Celebrations – Sites Memorial Chapel, 1211 10th St. S./Hwy 65 S. Northwood, IA, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will take place on Friday, November 7, 2025, at First Lutheran Church, 309 9th Street N. in Northwood, IA, at 3:00 p.m., with burial at Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood, IA. A meal will follow after the service in the First Lutheran Church basement.

Brian Lyle Bestul was born at Mercy Hospital in Mason City, IA, on April 13, 1951. His parents were Lyle (teacher and coach at NK) and Donna (Rockvan) Bestul. He had 2 siblings: Becky (Lee) Moore of Charlevoix, MI, and Bryn (Donnie) Pangburn of Northwood, IA. He grew up in Northwood, Iowa, and graduated from Northwood-Kensett High School in 1969. He then went on to UNI on a scholarship to play basketball and graduated in 1973. On December 28, 1973, Brian married his college sweetheart Suzanne (Nelson) Bestul (French, English, Spanish teacher). In 2023, they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

After graduation, Brian taught and coached in Clinton, IA, and then went to play pro basketball in Australia and teach school. Brian and Suzie enjoyed many adventures and travels within the “Great Down Under” and abroad. After Australia he returned to UNI to specialize in accounting. He and Suzie moved to Houston, Texas, where he worked for a CPA firm; to San Antonio, TX (Comptroller/Quasar); and then Dallas, TX (Operations Manager-Panasonic) where he acquired his MBA. His daughter Kylie Bestul was born in San Antonio, TX, and his son Daniel Lyle Bestul was born in Bedford, TX. After 18 years in Texas, he and his family moved to Severna Park, Maryland (8 yrs); and then to Northwood, IA (6 years); and Albert Lea, MN (15 years); where he was a Comptroller until he retired. He remained in Albert Lea, while often visiting his grandchildren in Blaine, WA, and Grimes, IA. In his later years, Brian was blessed and delighted to become a Papa to multiple grandchildren who adored him. His son Daniel and wife Amy Bestul have two children: Grace Catherine Bestul (4) and Hattie June Bestul (2), and 2 stepsons: Tate Schwartz (11) and Parker Schwartz (8). His daughter Kylie Bestul and husband John have one son: John Brian Bestul (2).

Throughout Brian’s life he was a lover of all sports, especially basketball, baseball and football and he never missed his children’s sporting events. Brian never lost his childhood passion to hoop it up, he shot baskets and played golf until his final days. He loved growing up in Northwood and he always considered it his home. After being away for many years, he wanted to move back to be closer to his parents and sister and for his children to grow up near family. He wanted his daughter Kylie to continue the family tradition of attending Luther College. He also wanted his son Daniel to attend NK High School and to play many sports and to make life-long friends. Some of his greatest memories were watching his son Daniel and the NK team win the 1A State Basketball Championship and sharing the podium with Daniel in August 2025, for his and his son’s induction into the first annual NK Athletic Hall of Fame.

He was blessed with many friends from Northwood, his college years, and various places that he lived. He remembered small personal things about people and tried to add light humor into conversations; he admired his father Lyle for his character and integrity and exemplified those same values for his own children; he was a man of faith; he was a one-of-a-kind father, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He will be greatly missed.

Other family members left to cherish his memory are Nigel and Lindsay Millard (Cael, Asher, Halle); Grayson Pangburn (St. Paul, MN); Paige and Kevin McClure (Northwood, IA); Peyton Pangburn (Cedar Rapids, IA); Zach and Katie Moore (Cade, Harm, Leif, Iris) of Holland, MI.

He was preceded in death by his parents Donna and Lyle Bestul, his in-laws: Helen and Louis Reitschlager and his brother-in-law Donnie Pangburn.

Hoff Celebrations – Sites Memorial Chapel of Northwood is assisting the family with arrangements.