Irene E. Beetham

Irene E. Beetham, age 95, of Lancaster, died on Thursday, November 26, 2009, at Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster, following a brief illness. She was born on October 9, 1914, the second child of John and Louretta (Day) Brandemuehl, and she grew up on a family farm in South Lancaster. She attended Grays Mill School, starting at age three, and graduated from Lancaster High School when she was sixteen. Irene married Cecil Beetham on her twentieth birthday and they farmed together for more than fifty years on a century farm in North Lancaster. She was a typical farm wife of the time, doing everything from raising chickens and tending livestock to driving tractors. Irene also loved to garden, can and freeze produce, cook big meals, bake bread and pies, crochet and sew, and even made her own soap. She often marveled at how her life had been affected by the technological changes over the years, with electricity having the biggest impact. Although Irene knew great sorrow in her life, especially the death of her toddler son in a tragic accident, she was a good-natured, happy person who lived life well. Her main focus was always her family. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought her special joy for more that fifty years.

Survivors include her children: Mary Ann Schmidt, Bloomington; Karen (Palmer Steward) Beetham, Davenport, IA; her brother-in-law, Carl Beetham, Washington, DC; her grandchildren: Debbie Kelly, Lutz, FL; Dennis (Becky) Schmidt, Lancaster; Ted Schmidt, Luck; Rick Schmidt, Marinette; Shari Schmidt, Land OLakes, FL; Heather (Scott) Steward-Tharp, Bethesda, MD; eight great-grandchildren: Erin and Erica Kelly, Elise (Alex) Kelly-Becker, Stephanie, Stephen, Rachel and Rene` Schmidt, and Pavlina Steward-Tharp; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to her parents, Irene was preceded in death by her son, Tommy, her husband, Cecil, her sister, Esther and brother, Elgie and a grandson-in-law, Teddy Kelly.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, December 3, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at Schwartz Funeral Home in Lancaster with Rev. Mark Dieter officiating. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster. Friends called on Wednesday, December 2, 2009, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Schwartz Funeral Home and from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Thursday.