Helen Louise Mcbeth

Helen was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Oscar William Lassman and Winnie Louise Kimbro. She had three siblings: Ann Lois Moore (dec'd), Betty Jean O'Berry (dec'd), and Oscar William Lassman Jr.

Helen met the love of her life, Ralph, in Miami, Florida on a double date to the USO. Helen loved to dance and found out on that date that Ralph "couldn't" dance. It didn't seem to matter to her. They married in August of 1943 in Nebraska, had four children and guardianship of Helen's 8-year old brother, Bill. Helen is preceded in death by her son Ronald Alan McBeth and her husband, Ralph Murray McBeth. She is survived by brother Bill Lassman (Janet); children Randy (Mary), Nancy, and David (Jennifer) McBeth; grandchildren Rebecca Darling (Matt), Macy Ryan (Ben), Ryan McBeth (Angie), Colin and Spencer McBeth; great grandchildren Morganne, Jack and Ian Darling, Elle and Quinn McBeth, and Walker Ryan as well as numerous other beloved family members and friends.

Helen lived through the Great Depression living primarily in Victoria, Texas and South Florida. She often spoke of her family's struggles, her mothers heart issues and early death, having to mature and take care of her family early in life, the tragedy of her fathers subsequent accidental death and how this shaped her life, views and attitudes. After her marriage, Helen moved in with her sister Annie while Ralph served during WWII in Italy and Africa. She worked as a runway model in Miami fashion shows. Helen held down the homefront while Ralph served in Korea. Helen was very proud of her husbands service to their country and supported him in all his endeavors.

Helen and Ralph were stationed stateside in Nebraska, Maine, New Jersey, Illinois, San Antonio, and Alaska among others and outside of the US, in Panama and Turkey (post WWII). Helen and Ralph made lasting, lifelong friends throughout the US and within Ralph's WWII 451st Bomber Squadron, which held reunions they attended all over the country every two years.

Through their travels, Helen and Ralph introduced their children to the beauty of the US as well as many other countries and cultures. Particularly eventful was their trip to Alaska with their children up the Alcan Highway in the early 1960s pulling a travel trailer. They enjoyed their time in Alaska backpacking, camping and fishing in the Russian River with the bears fishing nearby and walking on glaciers along the Alaskan coast, spying the wildlife, sledding and skiing as well as surviving the worst recorded earthquake in Alaskan history (1964). This posting had an impact on their children, through the majesty, beauty, purity and glory of the Alaskan wilderness and landscape to the amazement of the Aurora Borealis to the vastness of the icy glaciers.

The travel bug led Helen and Ralph to purchase two motorhomes. After Ralph's civil service retirement, they traveled the country alone or with their children and grandchildren as well as their good friends. Helen was a member of WUMC since 1968, a member of WUMW and other church activities, such as previously participating in the church's Angel Tree administration with Ralph and her family helpers.

Helen especially enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren and great grandchildren, all of whom she loved and was so proud, including their spouses. Helen was very proud of all her children successfully obtaining University degrees and worked during those years so her four children could do so. Helen was a fabulous cook and baker. Her specialities were amazing. She gave fabulous cocktail and dinner parties all over the US and overseas. She made clothing that looked professional for herself, her children and even poodle skirts for her granddaughters. She even helped her daughter make a female clown costume this past October.

Helen and Ralph along with various children and grandchildren attended the yearly McBeth and Earp family reunions, visited her brother in New England, and her sisters and then her brother in Florida. Helen stayed close to all her siblings through theirs and her own lifetimes.

Helen was known for her beautiful joyful smile and as a loving, kind, generous and happy woman. Above all, Helen loved her husband of 69 years, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren without fail and with the entirety of her heart, sharing and cherishing time, laughter, joy and love with them all. Her loss will be deeply felt for a very long time. You remain in our hearts always. We love you so dearly...

Nancy McBeth, 02/2015