Born: January 5, 1869, Koedyk (near Alkmaar), Holland.
Died: October 29, 1947, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Beets was the son of Jasper Beets and Grietje Smit, and husband of Clara Poel.
He emigrated to America in 1886, and after some years in Kansas, studied at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated in 1895, and was ordained a minister in the Christian Reformed Church.
In 1911, he received an honorary Doctor of Law degree from Muskingum College (now Muskingum University), New Concord, Ohio.
He was pastor of the Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center, Iowa (1895–99); the LaGrave Avenue Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan (1899–1915); and in Burton Heights, Michigan (1920).
In 1920, he became secretary and director of missions for the Christian Reformed Church. He also edited the weekly publication the Banner and De Heidenwereld, a monthly missionary publication.