Obituary for Mary Martha Besel (Strecker)
With dignity, faith, courage and strength, Mary Besel reached out her hand and took hold of Jesus' hand on March 6, 2018. Although we are broken and saddened we will not see her again on Earth, we rejoice that her pain is past and eternity is ahead.
Mary was born on January 20, 1927, to Henry and Lena Strecker. She was the oldest of four spirited girls. On April 27, 1946, Mary married her match, the love of her life and her best friend, Rueben Besel. Together, they welcomed three boys and a girl into their family. They worked hard on the farm until they decided to move to town and "retire" (although retire to them just meant different work, not less).
Mary and Rueben filled the "mom and dad" and "grandma and grandpa" role to countless friends. Their generosity was their notoriety. They lived out the command to feed the hungry, clothe the poor and comfort the downtrodden. and two people never more exemplified the love of Christ.
On Sept. 5, 2010, Mary said goodbye to Rueben as he entered Heaven and began a chapter of her life that included travel, adventure and family. To her, life was meant to be lived, and living well was church, family, laughter, love and grace.
Mary's husband and two sons (Jerome and Denny) greeted her in Heaven, and her son Kelly (Cindy) and daughter Nancy (Pat); daughter-in-law Virginia; grandchildren Shawn (Marie); LaShawn (Tod); Marlon (Alecia); Lindsey (Mitch) and Ryan eagerly await a reunion. Her great-grandchildren Parker, Karter, Kasen, Kyra, Sawyer and Jamison inherited a great example of a woman of faith. Her sisters Betty Frank and Georgia Helterbran also mourn the loss of their sister, and special friends Mike and Pam Lucas and their family are honorary Besels for life.
Graveside will be Friday, March 9, at 3 p.m. at Sunset Memorial gardens. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 10, at 10 a.m., at Word of Life Church. Smith Funeral Chapels assisted with arrangements.
Mary was born on January 20, 1927, to Henry and Lena Strecker. She was the oldest of four spirited girls. On April 27, 1946, Mary married her match, the love of her life and her best friend, Rueben Besel. Together, they welcomed three boys and a girl into their family. They worked hard on the farm until they decided to move to town and "retire" (although retire to them just meant different work, not less).
Mary and Rueben filled the "mom and dad" and "grandma and grandpa" role to countless friends. Their generosity was their notoriety. They lived out the command to feed the hungry, clothe the poor and comfort the downtrodden. and two people never more exemplified the love of Christ.
On Sept. 5, 2010, Mary said goodbye to Rueben as he entered Heaven and began a chapter of her life that included travel, adventure and family. To her, life was meant to be lived, and living well was church, family, laughter, love and grace.
Mary's husband and two sons (Jerome and Denny) greeted her in Heaven, and her son Kelly (Cindy) and daughter Nancy (Pat); daughter-in-law Virginia; grandchildren Shawn (Marie); LaShawn (Tod); Marlon (Alecia); Lindsey (Mitch) and Ryan eagerly await a reunion. Her great-grandchildren Parker, Karter, Kasen, Kyra, Sawyer and Jamison inherited a great example of a woman of faith. Her sisters Betty Frank and Georgia Helterbran also mourn the loss of their sister, and special friends Mike and Pam Lucas and their family are honorary Besels for life.
Graveside will be Friday, March 9, at 3 p.m. at Sunset Memorial gardens. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 10, at 10 a.m., at Word of Life Church. Smith Funeral Chapels assisted with arrangements.