Ronald A. Bethem; 81; of Belle Vernon (Washington Township); died Tuesday; Aug. 4; 2009; at 2:13 a.m. at Monongahela Valley Hospital. Born Jan. 12; 1928; in Charleroi; he was the son of the late Jules and Catherine Tatar Bethem. A resident of Washington Township for the past 46 years; Mr. Bethem was a member of St. Sebastian R.C. Church; Belle Vernon; and a veteran of the Korean War where he served in the U.S. Army. He was a caring and loving father; grandfather and great-grandfather; but mostly a loyal husband who spoke so much about his family and how much they meant to him. Often he would say you can’t beat family and we have the best. Generosity was a big part of his character. Doing things for everyone and expecting nothing in return. All who loved and cared for him made him proud. All who knew and loved him carry the confidence now that we can do anything. He would often say I knew you could do it. And that is testament to his character. He was employed at Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Monessen and Allenport plants as a machinist and with his brother; Darwin; operated the Bethem machine shop in Belle Vernon for 30 years; was a member and past president of the Belle Vernon American Legion Post 659; and Belle Vernon Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 209. He is survived by his wife; Mildred Maisano Bethem; to whom he was married 58 years; son and daughter-in-law Ronald J. and Dayna Bethem; of North Belle Vernon; daughter and son-in-law Peggy and Patrick Herforth; of Monongahela; two brothers and sisters-in-law Darwin and Lois Bethem; of Charleroi; Gordon and Connie Bethem; of Belle Vernon; sister and brother-in-law Norma and Dave Herst; of Gainesville; Ga.; six grandchildren; Jill Urban; Ivy Tauber; Alder Herforth; Jacob; Kerrie and Lee Bethem; four great- grandchildren; Timothy and Catherine Urban and Kael and Willow Herforth. He is preceded in death by two brothers; Leonard and Curtis Bethem; and a sister Elaine Binkney. Visitation will be held Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the LEONARD J. PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME; Family Owned and Operated; 626 Broad Avenue; Belle Vernon 724-929-6183. Prayer Service will be held Friday at 9:15 a.m. in the funeral home followed by Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Sebastian R.C. Church with the Rev. Lawrence L. Manchas Pastor as celebrant. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Members of St. Sebastian parish will pray the rosary for the departed soul of Ronald Bethem Thursday at 3 p.m. and the Belle Vernon American Legion will conduct services Thursday evening at 7 p.m.; both in the funeral home. Condolences accepted for the family at the funeral home’s web site; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.