Elsie E. Lebo

Elsie married Milton Bethel before 1939. Milton was born on 10 May 1909 in Amherst County, Virginia; died on 30 Jun 1981 in Springmont, Spring Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Margaret Battel Bethel supplied the corrected birthdate and location, as Art Peck was incorrect. She further noted that although Dick was born in Toledo, he grew up in Pennsylvania.

Bio of Dick Bethel published by Encore, Grand Rapids Community Foundation.

Blessed with everything from a green thumb to a sense of humor, Dick Bethel inspires the rest of us to ponder if we're truly tapping our own reservoirs to the greatest degree possible to share with the outside world.

Even a lifelong battle with Crohn's disease has failed to slow this Belmont resident, who was born in Toledo, raised in Pennsylvania, and moved to Michigan to make his mark in education, theater, horticultural, the Boy Scouts of America and more.

While helping his father in the car sales business, he earned a degree from Youngstown State University in business administration, then took a job with Dow Corning in Midland, and later earned an MBA from Central Michigan University.

It's there he met wife Maggie, with whom he has one son, Daniel. After his stint with Dow, he worked for JC Penney, then Reith-Riley Construction. Along the way, he taught sales and business classes for 22 years at Ferris State University.

His interests include a relationship with scouting (son Daniel attained the Eagle rank), as well as a long-time commitment to the Crossroads Theater Guild in Reed City, where he's played the part of the disciple James the Lesser in a production of "The Last Supper" that originated in1986.

"It always looks good on your resume," Dick says, "when you list yourself as 'disciple.'"

Dick has also performed with the Rogue River Community Theater Company since 2001.

In association with 4-H and Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Service, Dick has pitched in on several endeavors, including that of a "rabbit leader" the last 16 years for youth raising hares to show at area fairs. In 2011, he earned Master Gardener designation through MSU, and has completed requirements for advanced master gardener and master naturalist.

"It's a whole different direction from the city boy who grew up in Redding, Pennsylvania," he acknowledges.

With Maggie at his side, these two avid gardeners have landscaped from scratch their two-acre wooded lot in Ada with lavish stands of perennials. They spend hours each spring spritzing up the beds with hundreds of annuals. Highlights include a bubbling fountain that flows from a massive puddingstone, and meandering pathways that connect to neighbors' properties.

"It's been a lot of enjoyment and fun," says Dick, whose life of service has extended to children as young as five and gardeners well into and beyond their 80s. "You get your rewards," he maintains, "from the enjoyment of others."

Sometimes, those rewards come with laughter. Not long ago, he was manning phones for the Extension Service and fielded a call from a woman who had just moved to northern Lower Michigan from southern Mississippi.

"Have there been any reports of spaceships landing in the Traverse City area?" she asked, and went on to describe what she thought was something tantamount to crop circles, with "the ground covered in some areas by a strange white coating."

"How long have you lived in Traverse City," Dick asked.

"Six months," came the reply.

"Do you know what frost is?"


Obituary

Richard Milton Bethel, Polka-dancer, cat-lover, vintage milk-bottle enthusiast, and a man with an endless appetite for Pennsylvania Dutch dishes are just a few of the traits that describe Richard ""Dick"" Bethel. Dick found joy in all these things and so much more yet nothing gave him greater joy than serving others. Even on his last day of July 14, 2022, which came to a peaceful end at his home with his beloved wife beside him, he spoke of plans to serve coffee to the folks ""upstairs"".

Service to his community and others was a consistent quality that marked his entire life through his service in the Navy, his teaching career at Ferris State University, his 4-H volunteer work, and as a Master Gardener Hotline volunteer. Naming all the different ways he served during his life cannot be adequately chronicled in this space, but more important, does not honor his humble character.

Dick was born June 27, 1939, to Milton and Elsie Bethel of Reading, Pennsylvania, and was their only child. In 1974 he married his beloved wife Margaret; they were married 48 years. They lived in the Cannonsburg area for the last 30 years. In 1980 he became a father to their only child, Daniel Bethel. He gained a daughter-in-law, Sarah, in 2013. He became a grandfather to Benji, in 2015 and later to Clara (2018), and Susie (2020). Dick took great pride and love in his family, expressing his care through service. He asked his son and others (he was honored to be called ""Dad"" by several family friends), ""How's your car running?"". We love you too Dad, the cars are running just fine.

A memorial service is planned for August 19, 2022, at 11:30 at the Bostwick Lake Congregational Church, 7979 Belding Road, NE, Rockford, MI, 49341, followed by a light luncheon. Visitation will be held an hour before the service. The service will also be available for connection on Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85906057012?pwd=Y2RMOHdIOUV5cyt4SlJOQ2VPNW1CZz09.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan 4 H Foundation for the Kent County 4-H Youth Endowment or the Bostwick Lake Congregational Church Memorial Gardens.

Published by Grand Rapids Press from Jul. 21 to Jul. 25, 2022.

Richard"Dick" married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]