Belvin L. Doebbert

Belvin Luther Doebbert

Born on April 29, 1954 to parents, Lowell and Gloria (Kamps) Doebbert, Belvin was a world traveler, a thinker of big ideas, a student of politics, religion and Shakespeare, and a man of many interests. A fighter for and a defender of others, he was tenacious, loyal, creative, knowledgeable, well-read, and curious about the world and the people in it. He was an asker of questions and a solver of problems. No challenge was too large for him. He was rarely bored, always finding something interesting to do or to think about. When asked what made him happy, without hesitation he said it was spending time with his family. He enjoyed being with people, whether lifelong friends or brand-new acquaintances.

As a youth, Belvin wrestled, sang in the choir, fell off a silo at age 16 and walked away unharmed, ran across farm fields at night to the local barn dances, and worked as a counselor at Luther Bible camp. After graduating from Glenwood High School in 1972, Belvin earned his bachelor’s in English Literature, with minors in Religion and Psychology, from Augsburg College in Minneapolis. He graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 1983.

During his 72 years, he was employed as a farmer, a truck driver, an agricultural missionary in Senegal, Africa, and as a researcher, committee administrator, and floor advisor for the Minnesota House of Representatives. He worked as an attorney in private practice, and in 1994 was elected Pope County Attorney, a position he held for 16 years.

Belvin loved adventure, the BWCA, his native Pope County, and being with his family and friends, especially his sons. He was blessed with many lifelong friendships from college and from his childhood home of Glenwood, Minnesota, including former teachers and coaches. He found meaning in his Christian faith.

In choosing to return to Glenwood in 1988, Belvin was motivated not only by his love for his native Pope County, but by a desire to give back to his community. He gave countless hours to his church as Senior Warden, vestry member, lay preacher, and Sunday School teacher. He served as officer and board member of Central Square during its early years. He was a driving force in bringing broadband to Pope County as Chair of the WaskaNet Alliance. He enjoyed membership in both the Glenwood Lions Club and the Sons of Norway. He sang in the Pope County Men’s Chorus and brought his inquisitive presence to his men’s bible study group.

In 1988 he married JoEllen Pfeifle, and in 1993 they designed and built their home on Lake Reno, on land that had been in the Doebbert family for decades. They were blessed with two sons.

On May 15, 2026, Belvin passed peacefully, surrounded by his family, overlooking his beloved Lake Reno, the place where he lived most of his life.

Belvin was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.  He is survived by his wife, JoEllen, and his two sons, Connor and Gavin; his brother, Jan Doebbert (Nancy) and sister, Gwendolyn Doebbert (Richard); and three nieces and nephews, Amalia Doebbert, Sarah Epstein (Andy), and Joshua Doebbert.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, May 26th at 11:00 a.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 602 12th Avenue E, Alexandria. Visitation will be Memorial Day, May 25th from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. Visitation will also continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Lake Ann Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. To send online condolences, visit hoplinfuneralhome.com.

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