Betty L. Beile

Dateline: Alton, IL Betty Eleanor Lamb Beile died peacefully at 11:35am on Friday, April 19, 2013 at Saint Anthony’s Hospital in Alton, with family at her side. A Memorial Service will be held at First Presbyterian Church Saturday, May 4th with Rev. David J. Crowley officiating. First Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of Fourth and Alby Streets. The family will receive friends beginning at 9:30am until the time of the service at 11:00am. Betty Eleanor Lamb was born on June 21, 1931 to the late Dr. Harry H. Lamb and Dorothy (Matson) Lamb in Davenport, Iowa. As a child, and throughout her adult life, Betty loved the Mississippi River. Something of a tomboy, she preferred most any sport over schoolwork and she especially liked to play tackle football with the neighborhood boys. Her burgeoning football career ended at age 14 when she left for Lake Forest, Illinois to attend The Ferry Hall School. In 1949, the fall of her freshman year at The Colorado College, Betty met Harold “Hal” Beile of Park Ridge, Illinois. Hal, a senior, found his initial attempts to secure a date confounded by the pretty freshman’s social calendar. Perseverance won out, however, and Betty accepted Hal’s fraternity pin in the spring with Hal declaring: “I got through high school, the navy and nearly four years of college without saying “I love you”… and now you’ve wrecked it”. In October of 1951, Hal and Betty began their first of more than 60 years of marriage. Married life started in Denver, Colorado and it was in Denver that Bill and David were born. The family soon moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where Steve and Richard were welcomed. Another move and another son with the arrival of Robert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1966, Hal accepted the position of controller with Alton Box Board Co. and the family moved to Godfrey. While her husband’s passion for golf is well documented, Betty also excelled at the game. In fact, having grown up as member of Davenport Country Club, she provided Hal with his initial instruction in golf. Family legend has it that long before she won Lockhaven’s club championship, Betty won a similar title in Denver… just weeks after giving birth to Bill. But golf was simply not enough to hold her attention. Betty’s passions included community service, bridge, gardening, helping children learn to read, her five boys, her seven grandchildren and of course, Hal. Betty Beile was preceded in death by her husband, Hal; her parents, Harry and Dorothy Lamb and by her brother, Richard M. Lamb. While she will be missed greatly, her life is celebrated by sons Bill, married to Alma; David, married to Virginia; Steve, married to Roberta; Richard, married to Donia; and Robert. Also celebrating her life are 4 grandsons Matt, Andrew, Phil and David; 3 granddaughters Lindsay, Annie and Kaylin; nephew, Chuck Lamb; niece, Carolyn Doud and their families. The Beile boys would like to express particular gratitude to their sister-in-law, Virginia Woulfe-Beile, whose commitment and attentiveness to both Hal and Betty “brought comfort not just to our parents but also to each of us in the knowledge that she was there”. In Lieu of Flowers, Betty would hope that you will consider a donation to the Alton Food Crisis Center, Alton Salvation Army or to the charity of your choice. She would also like it greatly if you would pluck the occasional dandelion or pick up an errant candy wrapper. Gent Funeral Home in Alton is in charge of arrangements. PDF Printable Version

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Betty L. Beile

June 21, 1931 - April 19, 2013