Dorothy S Beeler

Funeral Services for Dorothy Beeler will be conducted from the United Methodist Church in Oxford, Nebraska on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. with Mr. Keith Theobald and Reverend Melanie Adams, officiating. Interment will be in the Union Cemetery in Furnas County, Nebraska.

Elsie Dorothy (Stevens) Beeler passed away on Friday, August 17, 2007 at Christian Homes in Holdrege, Nebraska. She was born June 14, 1920 on the family farm near Grant in Perkins County, Nebraska, the third of four children of Joseph Morgan Stevens and Elsie Maude (Browitt) Stevens. She attended grade school at a country school in Perkins County and graduated from Perkins County High School in 1938. She then pursued higher education at the Kearney State Teachers College for two years and then University of Nebraska in Lincoln, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Vocational Home Economics.

Dorothy was the County Home Economist in Furnas County, where she met her soon to be husband, Earl Manley Beeler. On April 20, 1947 they were united in marriage at Grant, Nebraska and the couple were blessed with three children: Peggy, Rex and Dotty Jo. The couple lived in Beaver City, Nebraska, Grant, Nebraska, Oral, South Dakota, Oxford, Nebraska and Holdrege.

Dorothy taught school for over 37 years, retiring in 1985. Her students all loved and respected her especially after they had graduated. Former students told her and her family many times that they never would have made it through school if Mrs. Beeler hadn't been there to get on their case or give them encouragement.

Dorothy loved to teach, whether it was in the formal setting of school or just sharing her wisdom with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also was a wonderful seamstress and did many crafts after retiring from teaching. She had a huge garden and enjoyed giving extra produce to her friends. She also had beautiful flowers that she shared with others. Dorothy loved being involved in her family's activities including: watching her children and grandchildren show at the 4-H contests, playing sports, and perform in speech and drama events. She was very proud of her twin grandsons that served their country in the Marine Corps.

She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and was active with the open class exhibits as Superintendent for the Furnas County Fair for many years.

She leaves to celebrate her life her husband, Earl of Holdrege, three children: Peggy Ouellette and her husband, Jim of Oxford, Rex Beeler of Kearney, Nebraska and Dotty Jo Patterson and her husband, Lyle of Holdrege; four grandsons: Saun Patterson and his wife, Sheila of Holdrege, Shane Patterson and his wife, Liz of Lincoln, Nebraska, Quinton Gorsuch and his wife, Shannon of Belgrade, Montana and Quincy Gorsuch of Holdrege; eight great-grandchildren: Morgan, Taylor, Taryn and Meghan Patterson of Holdrege, Amanda and Karley Patterson of Lincoln, Macy and Zander Gorsuch of Belgrade, Montana; five sisters-in-laws: Freida Holms of Grant, Virginia Stevens of Lincoln, Donna Dixon of Beaver City, Lilie Ann Dahlgren of Holdrege, and Betty Johnson and her husband, Dave of California and one brother-in-law, Kenneth Beeler and his wife, Mary Ann of California; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers: Kenneth in infancy, Glenn and Harold Stevens; two sisters-in-law: Leta Beth Howard and her husband, Wendel and Metta Theobald and her husband, John; four brothers-in-law: Eldon Beeler, Harvey Dahlgren, Basil Costerisan and Jack Dixon.

Mrs. Beeler will lie in state at the Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford on Monday, August 20, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The casket will be open during visitation and closed at the church.

A memorial has been established in her memory.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of the arrangements.