Elizabeth “Betty” Mae Beegle, 98, a longtime resident of Blairstown, passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side on Friday, November 3.
She was born to the late William and Frances (Snyder) Latteman at home in Belvidere on April 24, 1925. Elizabeth spent her elementary years in Belvidere until the age of 7 when the family moved to Blairstown. She graduated from Blairstown High School in 1943 with her classmate and future husband, William “Bill” Beegle. They were engaged at the Blairstown footbridge and married at the Presbyterian Manse on March 18, 1945, becoming a quintessential couple of the World War II era. In 1949, they moved to Washington, New Jersey where they raised their four children. After living briefly in Colorado, they moved back to their beloved Blairstown in 1972 and have made their home here ever since. Elizabeth and William were recognized as the longest known married couple in Warren County, having been married for 78 years this past March.
Betty had several jobs in her life, but none more important than as a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She cherished her family and passed on to them her traits of kindness and a gentle demeanor. In her youth she was a newspaper delivery girl and later a telephone operator in Blairstown. In the 1980s and 90s she was an assistant to the director at Newbaker Funeral Home.
She was a member with the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 107 and volunteered as a den mother with the Cub Scout Pack of Washington, New Jersey. Betty was a communicant for the First Presbyterian Church of both Washington, New Jersey and Blairstown. Singing in the choir was a favorite part of her involvement with the church.
Betty bowled on leagues at Oakwood Lanes and during retirement at Bel-Pike Lanes with Bill and her in-laws Paul and Elinor Lowman and Marion and Gilbert VanSyckle. She loved nature and all animals – especially birds and cats. She would always provide homes for stray kitties and other animals in need. Betty was a tea lover and she loved outings to tea houses and would have little tea parties with her grandchildren. Betty and Bill traveled the United States in their RV enjoying the American countryside with their dear friends Abbie and Albert Schmidt. She entertained her family by singing her old-time favorite songs that included “Happy Days Are Here Again,” “Singing in the Rain,” and “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’.” She made every effort to be involved in her children’s and grandchildren’s interests and was very proud of all their accomplishments.
Betty is survived by her loving husband of 78 years, William J. Beegle; her four children, William D. and wife Kathe; Jeffrey and wife Jeanne; Donna Melnyczenko; and Christine Beegle; nine grandchildren, Kevin (Dana) Beegle; Eric (Jeanine) Beegle; Jason (partner Kelly) Beegle; Kim (Chris) Ply; Christie (Jeff) Karrels; Tara (Emmett) Kluxen; Michael (Jennifer) Bryan; Christine (partner Jason) Westrich; and Alyson (Nate) Barrall; great grandchildren Kaden, Sadi, Ethan, Ally, Mackenzie, Kyllie, Tyler, Brenna Emily Rose, Colin, Alexa, Megan, Joey, Olivia and Hazel; her sisters-in-law Ellen Costa and Audrey Beegle; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her son-in-law Gene Melnyczenko, her sister Frances and brothers Richard, William and Robert Latteman.
Mom was well known for her warmth and gentle personality, making friends wherever she went. She will be dearly missed by all her friends and family. Simply stated, we just adored her. Toot-a-loo dear mom. We love you❤️.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Betty’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Foundation at www.alzfdn.org; Blairstown Ambulance Corps Blairstown Ambulance Corp » Donate (46rescue.org); or the Humane Society of the United States at www.humanesociety.org]/www.humanesociety.org.