William Bellamy Bertelsen

Funeral services for W. Bellamy Bertelsen will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 15, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clifton, the Rev. Don Wright officiating.  A visitation will be held at Clifton Funeral Home of Friday, July 14, from 5 to 7 p.m.  Bertelsen died on Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Clifton following a brief illness.  He was 83.  Burial will follow at St. Olaf’s Lutheran Rock Church Cemetery near Cranfills Gap, where five generations of his family rest.

William Bellamy Bertelsen was born April 29, 1940, at home in Cranfills Gap, the son of William Bertrand Bertelsen and Johanna Christiansen Bertelsen.  He was named for his father and Dr. Bellamy, a family friend.   He was proud of his Norwegian heritage on both sides of his family.  He was baptized as an infant at St. Olaf’s Lutheran Church in Cranfills Gap,and confirmed there in 1955.  He attended all twelve years of school at Cranfills Gap, where he enjoyed sports and graduated in 1958.  He loved his childhood in Cranfills Gap and the happy home he shared with loving parents and his older sister, Christabel.

Bellamy first attended Texas Lutheran College in Seguin for two years before obtaining his degree in Business Administration from Sam Houston State University at Huntsville in 1962.  Later that year he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving a total of six years active duty and reserves, primarily as a medical technician during the Vietnam War years on base hospitals.  He was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1968.  Bellamy was married to Janice Elaine Linberg of Cranfills Gap on August 15, 1964 at St. Olaf’s Lutheran Church.  The couple welcomed a daughter, Julie Bellamy, in 1965; and a son, William Brandon, in 1968.  Bellamy worked as a bookkeeper, cashier, vice-president, and director at First Security State Bank in Cranfills Gap and Farmers State Bank in Meridian through 1972.  He and Janice purchased Keeling’s in downtown Clifton in 1973 and spent the next 25 years operating Bertelsen’s Department Store, which carried clothing and shoes for the entire family.  Bellamy embarked on his final career with the US Postal Service in 1997, first serving as a substitute rural mail carrier in Meridian and Cranfills Gap and several years as a window clerk in Clifton, retiring in 2006.

Janice and Bellamy built their Clifton home at 2210 White Street in 1977 where they raised their children and spent 45 happy years.  Julie and William recall fun times with their parents on camping trips and to the Apparel Mart in Dallas selecting clothing for the department store. Then grandchildren made their own precious memories in the Bertelsen home where they spent many weekends and holidays.  Bellamy could be found in the kitchen baking bread, the Thanksgiving turkey, or grilling outdoors.  He loved to play nostalgic music at Christmas and make Norwegian cheeses.

Bellamy’s civic involvement in Cranfills Gap and Clifton included serving as treasurer for the Cranfills Gap Chamber of Commerce and the Church Council at St. Olaf’s Lutheran Church.  The couple joined Trinity Lutheran Church after moving to Clifton.  Bellamy was active in the Lions Club, American Legion, president and director of the Clifton Chamber of Commerce, lifetime membership with the Bosque Art Center, where he enjoyed filming stage plays and children’s programs, and worked towards Clifton being designated a Texas Main Street city.  He served on the Church Council at Trinity Lutheran Church, where he and Janice maintained their membership since the 1970s.

Bellamy enjoyed entertaining friends and family, deer camp with friends and his son, enjoying music and dancing with his daughter, watching old western movies and TV shows, researching family history, still photography and filming family events to share with others.  He was patriotic and proud to be honored by the Quilt of Valor Foundation for his military service on June 27th.  He possessed a deep faith which carried him through many hills and valleys during his lifetime.  He enjoyed dressing nicely, wearing a tie and suit or sports coat.  He had a loud and infectious laugh that he shared freely and often.  He was devoted to family and loved hugs and kisses.  He was a loving son, a faithful husband, a beloved Daddy and sweet Grandad.  He was thankful for a long and beautiful life that allowed time for wonderful memories of special times with beloved family and friends who blessed his journey.  He always had a kind word, a big smile, and loving heart.

Bellamy was preceded in death by his mother in 1968 and his father in 1975; and his in-laws, Milton and Odessa Linberg in 1999 and 2003. Survivors include his wife of almost 59 years, Janice Linberg Bertelsen of Clifton; daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Bryan Davis of Clifton; son and daughter-in-law, William and Crystal Bertelsen of Flat.  Other survivors include six grandchildren; Evan (Casie) Davis of Boerne; Mary DeAnndra Bertelsen of Brownsboro; Laine (Jonathan) Frederick of Hewitt; Jessica Bertelsen (Alex) Utter and Ezra of Brownsboro; Ethan Payen of Clifton; and Brenna Bertelsen of Clifton. Also, five step-grandchildren; Brett (Kami) Foisie, Layna, Loni and Lexin of Livingston; Colton (Kristina) Foisie, Kylen and Dawson of Lufkin; Michaela (Michael) Green and Everett of Copperas Cove: MacKenzie and Madison Hammond of Copperas Cove; his sister, Christabel Bertelsen Jorgenson of San Marcus; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and cherished family and friends, and his faithful feline companions, Campbell and Captain.

The family requests memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church, Clifton; St. Olaf’s Rock Church Cemetery, Cranfills Gap; or Clifton Lutheran Sunset Ministries, Clifton, or a charity of one’s choice.