November 21, 1928 ~ December 24, 2025
Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Beach age 97 of New Hampton died Wednesday, December 24, 2025 at the Shell Rock Care Center.
Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 10, 2025 at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton with Mary Ann Diesburg (Congregational United Church of Christ) presiding.
Friends may greet the family two hours prior to the service on Saturday at the funeral home.
641-394-4334.
Elizabeth Ann (Maurer) “Betty” Beach was born on Wednesday, November 21, 1928, at 9:19 a.m. in New Hampton, Iowa, the eldest of three children born to Stephen Alwin Maurer and Elizabeth Nelsdatter (Eide) Maurer. She was baptized on March 24, 1929, at the Methodist Episcopal Church in New Hampton.
In 1931, the family moved to Tripoli, Iowa, where her father worked as a linotype operator at the Tripoli Leader. It was there that Betty grew up and attended school. She was married to William Everett Beach at Cresco, Iowa, prior to his induction into the U.S. Army, where he served in World War II. Together, they were the parents of seven children. The couple were crop and livestock farmers and raised their family in Jackson Township, Chickasaw County, Iowa.
Betty’s family and faith were most important to her, and she was an inspiration to all who knew her. She was a devoted member of the New Hampton United Church of Christ for 75 years. She also volunteered her time as a staff member at the Carnegie Museum in New Hampton and took great pride in her Norwegian heritage.
William passed away on September 12, 1977. Betty continued living on the acreage until the age of 95. Over the years, she worked in downtown New Hampton at ReadWell Books, Manson Shoes, and later retired in 2010 from Little House of Bargains. She loved hosting family meals on the farm, gardening, reading, socializing with her clubs, and finding treasured collectibles.
Betty was a member of the Red Hat Club, the Red Wing Collectors Society, and was the last surviving member of the Jacksonville Happy Homemakers. She had also been a member of the Royal Neighbors of America. She was a faithful Christian throughout her life.
At the age of 97 years, one month, and three days, Betty passed away on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at the Shell Rock Care Center in Butler County, Iowa, in the presence of her family.
Betty is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Hathaway of Boone, Iowa; sons, William (Elaine) Beach of Greene, Iowa, Stephen (Kathleen) Beach of La Crescent, Minnesota, Timothy (Luann) Beach of Laramie, Wyoming, and Scott (Tami) Beach of Ames, Iowa; 20 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandsons.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Everett Beach; her daughter, Sandra Wersinger; infant son, Francis Beach; grandson, Michael Hathaway; granddaughter-in-law, Michelle Hathaway; siblings, Stephen A. Maurer and Hazel L. Kirchhoff; and infant grandchildren, Richard, Hunter, and Crew.
The family wishes to thank Accura HealthCare and St. Croix Hospice for their care and support.
Memorials may be made to the United Church of Christ, the Carnegie Museum in New Hampton, or a charity of the donor’s choice.
hugebackfuneralhome.com