Marcelline Ann Beitelspacher, age 89, lost a long battle to Alzheimer’s disease when she died peacefully in her sleep April 13, 2015.
She was born September 14, 1925 in Hoven, South Dakota to Barbara and Leo Illies. It was a large Catholic farming family of 15. On October 7, 1943, she married Albert Beitelspacher. Marcelline and Albert farmed and ranched eight long miles from Seneca, South Dakota. It was a tough time in hard ground with lots of bad weather. They lost the farm to the banks and in 1952 left for a more hopeful life in sunny Southern California with three children, Ronnie, Bonnie and Luella. Son, Ricky was born there. Marcelline worked there as a telephone operator, waitress and cook, and as a supervisor at the Hunts-Wesson cannery. In 1979, she and Albert retired to their son’s property near Mt. Idaho, outside of Grangeville. Her husband, Albert passed away unexpectedly in February of 1981.
Marcelline was very active in her beloved Catholic Church, attending many Deanery meetings and serving as as Eucharistic Minister for St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Grangeville. She delivered Holy Communion to those unable to attend Mass, who were bedridden in their own homes or in the hospital or nursing home. She looked forward to her time with her Grangeville Garden Club friends. She and the garden club were instrumental in the passage of legislation to prevent littering of Idaho’s roads. Marcelline’s list of things to do was always very long. Forever busy with her craftwork, her Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clauses were popular craft fair products that helped to supplement her income. Her home is still full of boxes of pieces for future projects.
When she wasn’t out for her morning four mile walk that most called a sprint, her attention in the family orchard was always needed and she provided her friends and family with many jars of canned fruit, jams and pies. Her gift-sacks of Christmas cookies usually held enough to feed a small army. Ron Johns especially loved her bountiful Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners with her special mashed potatoes, gravy and too many desserts. A successful hunter for deer and turkey, she was especially proud of her Heckman Ranch elk taken with one shot from her muzzleloader in her 66th year. Her busy hard-working life was occasionally interrupted for her solo driving trips to family visits in Minnesota and South Dakota or to Puyallup, Washington to see her most beloved grandsons Paul and Chris.
Preceding her in death were husband Albert, granddaughter Diane Beitelspacher, brothers Leander , Silverius , Joseph and Raymond Illies; sisters Thrasilla Larson, Kathryn Roesler, Bernie Nash, and Rose Ann Larson.
Survivors include her sisters, Irene Raymond, Lucille Roeder, Caroline Haase, Charlotte Greise; children, Ron and wife, Linda Beitelspacher, Grangeville; Bonnie and husband, Mike Smith, Clearwater; Luella and husband Howard Bice of Anderson California; Rick and wife Kim Beitelspacher and their sons Paul and Chris, Puyallup Washington; granddaughter Janet Beitelspacher, great grandson Marcus, and Janet’s husband Brian Auer and children Kasch, Wyatt and Abbi, Clarkston, Washington.
The last years of Marcelline’s life left her absent of the real world, for Alzheimer’s is a thief of reality and recognition of the present. But the memory of her strength, energy, kindness, capability and wisdom will live on and be sorely missed by those who knew and loved her.
There will be a Rosary at 12:30pm on Monday, April 20, 2015, followed by a 1:00 pm funeral Mass at St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Grangeville and a burial ceremony at the Grangeville Cemetery. Malcom’s Brower-Wann Funeral Home of Lewiston will be in charge of arrangements.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Monday, April 20, 1:00 PM
- Location
-
St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church
625 Lake Street
Grangeville, Idaho 83530
Get Directions - Additional Details
- The rosary will be recited, Monday, April 20, 2015, at 12:30 p.m.
Condolences
Jeff and Monica Jones
Dear Ron and Linda; Monica and I were saddened to hear of the passing of your mother. We hope that the grief in your heart will soon be filled with nothing but the best memories of your life with your beautiful mother
Thursday, April 16, 2015 8:24 AM
Jan (Beitelspacher) Banghart
My deepest condolences to the family!
Thursday, April 16, 2015 5:18 AM
Rita Beitelspacher miller
So sooty to hear about The loss of your mom. Prayers are with you all. Wish I would have known that she was in Puyallap as I live in OLYMPIA. My mom has been out here many of time and they could have seen each other. Maybe some day we can get together and reunite the Beitelspacher family. I know our fathers would like to see that. Please look me up sometime. Praying for you all. Spike's baby!!
Wednesday, April 15, 2015 8:10 PM
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