Frances W. Beetham

Frances (Ward) Beetham, age 93, died September 19, 2011, at Grant Regional Health Center. She was born on October 5, 1917, the third child of William and Nora (Knox) Ward. She grew up in Lancaster, and was a member of LHS class of 1935. She met her future husband, Wendell Beetham, at LHS. They married June 25, 1941. They welcomed their first son, Ward Mark, in 1943; and daughter, Jean in 1947. Close ties were kept with Wendells three sisters and their families: Helen and Leck Haskins, Ardys and Norm Elwell, all of Lancaster; and Ann and Bob Martens of Platteville. They gathered together monthly for clan bakes to celebrate birthdays, holidays, or anything else they could think of. Because they lived in Michigan, visit with her brother Lyals family were less frequent, but just as lively; as nephews and nieces arrived to help with harvesting and to catch up with their old home town. Frances started selling Avon in 1960, winning numerous sales awards over the next six years, when she was asked to join the staff at The Budget Shop, now known as MaCandis Boutique in Lancaster. She loved to sew and cook and was an accomplished candy maker.

Frances seemed to know everyone, and if she didnt, she would go introduce herself. Nine times out of ten, she would find that her new friends and she had a mutual friend or relative. Forgetting a name of face, common to the rest of us, came very late in life to her. Frances was an avid, life-long reader.

Frances is survived by her daughter, Jean (Daniel) Smith, Norwood, MA; grandson, Joshua Ward ( Eden Garhart-Smith) Smith and their son, Atticus Ward Smith, all of Malden, MA; granddaughter, Libbie (William) Craft, and their daughter, Sara Craft, all of Selkirk, NY; nephews, Darrel (Marly) Haskins, Lancaster; William Ward, Minneapolis, MN; Frank Ward and Harry Ward, both of Michigan; John (Mary) Elwell, Minneapolis, MN; and Robert (Barb) Martens, Platteville; nieces: Sally Cullimore and Kay (Bob) Tiedt, both of Michigan; Marte (Frank) Wetzel, Cottage Grove; Mary Lou Haskins, Lancaster; many great-nieces, great nephews and some great-great nieces and nephews.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents; infant sister, Golda; brother, Lyal Ward; devoted husband, Wendell; beloved son, Ward; all three of Wendells sisters and their husbands; nephews, Perry Martens, Richard Ward and Stan Haskins.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, September 22, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at Martin Funeral Home in Lancaster with Pastor Barbara Cook officiating. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster. Family and friends called on Thursday, September 22, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home. In lieu of plants and flowers, a Frances W. Beetham Memorial Fund has been established with memorials being given to the Schreiner Memorial Library Building Fund.