Northwest Iowa — An event has been organized to honor the life of a Spirit Lake native who represented northwest Iowa in congress for more than a decade.
Berkley Bedell passed away in Naples, Florida on December 7th, at the age of 98. A memorial service for Bedell had been planned for July 25th in Spirit Lake, but due to the coronavirus, that memorial service was canceled. In its place Bedell’s family has organized the Berkley Bedell Memorial Boat Parade on West Lake Okoboji.
The family says boats will gather in front of the Arnolds Park Amusement Park at 6:00 pm on Saturday July 25th. Leading the parade will be the Queen II excursion boat carrying Bedell’s close and longtime friends that he regularly gathered with upon his return to the lakes area. Following the Queen II will be Berkley’s family in boats. All others are asked to follow in line behind the family and the last family boat which will be carrying an American flag.
The Queen II will depart at 6:00 pm and round Pillsbury Point traveling toward Terrace Park. It will then circle Emerson Bay, crossing from Gull Point to Manhattan Beach and follow the west shoreline to the north end of the lake. Returning along the east shoreline, the Parade will complete its journey back at Arnolds Park Amusement Park. The community is invited to participate. During the boat parade, there will be a short memorial service, which will be broadcast on 103.9 FM. The memorial service will include messages from many of Berkley’s close friends and senators, according to the Bedell family.
If the weather makes it uncomfortable or unsafe the Parade will be postponed until Sunday night.
Bedell was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974, and served there until 1986.
Photo above: Former Congressman Berkley Bedell Talks with Senator Elizabeth Warren.
