Bette J. Beaman, 89, a resident at Harmony Assisted Living in Stevens Point, died there Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Stevens Point, with the Rev. Jerzy Rebacz officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. Tuesday until the Mass.
Memorials in her name should be given to the Holly Shoppe and St. Stephen Catholic Church.
Boston Funeral Home of Stevens Point assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be offered online at bostonfuneralhome.net.
Mrs. Beaman was born May 30, 1923, in Green Bay, a daughter of the late Walter R. and Jessie C. (MacDonald) Eichwald. She graduated from East High School in Green Bay.
She was married to Harold “Bud” Beaman on Dec. 25, 1943. He died in 1987.
During World War II she worked as a telephone operator until her husband was discharged from the Army, and then lived in Eau Claire and Grand Rapids, Mich., while he worked for Sentry Insurance. They later moved to Stevens Point, Waupaca and Appleton where she worked as a medical assistant and dental assistant. While living in Manitowoc, she worked as a civic newcomer hostess. In 1969 she and her family moved back to Stevens Point. She worked as a secretary at the Stevens Point Parks and Recreation Dept., then as a medical assistant for Dr. Nyles Eskritt for 17 years until retirement.
She volunteered for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Portage County where she tutored English for Hmong adults and was a classroom assistant and mentor in elementary schools to name just a few. She was a member of the Holly Shoppe, making silk flower arrangements of all kinds and seasonal decorations. She served on the Holly Shoppe Advisory Council and did merchandise displays for different Holly Shoppe events.
She served on the Portage County chapter of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, and was a member of St. Stephen Catholic Church, assisting with Christmas and Easter decorating.
She was past president of the Towne Bridge Club.
Survivors include one daughter, Susan (Ray) Kaercher; two sons, Bruce and Brian (Deanna); one brother, John Eichwald, Simi Valley, Calif.; four grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and one great-great-granddaughter.
