Beatrice D. Puterbaugh

Beatrice D. Puterbaugh, 85, passed away on June 11, 2005, at home. A coronation service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 15, at Peace Lutheran Church, 3590 Lincoln Ave, St. Joseph. Pastor Paul Koehneke will officiate and burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 14, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home or Peace Lutheran Church. Friends wishing to send a condolence message or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Bea was born on Feb. 1, 1920 to Reinhold and Ida Ladwig (Kasischke) in the first home built on Howard Avenue in St. Joseph. Except for a brief time spent living in San Fransisco in order to be closer to her husband, Roy, during World War II, she spent most of her life in the house built by her father. Bea loved to cook and entertain, and spent hours planning for celebrations. She was an excellent baker, and even started a small wedding cake catering business on the side. She would spend hours knitting and solving crossword puzzles, as well. She graduated from St. Joseph Public Schools in 1938. Later, she worked for the school system as a cook at Upton Junior High, retiring as head cook. While her children were in school, she served as a room mother and Girl Scout Leader. Later, she volunteered for numerous organizations, most notably the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph, and Peace Lutheran Church. Bea is survived by her husband of 63 years, Roy; one brother, Gerald Ladwig of St. Joseph; one sister, Virginia (Einar) Nelson of St. Joseph; two daughters, Kathy (Peter) Paul of St. Joseph and Sharon (Steven) Pontius of Lawrence; and a son, Stephen (Beth) Puterbaugh of Plano, TX. She is survived by her grandchildren: Kimberly (Kenneth) Strode, Jeremy Gibson, Jennifer Puterbaugh, Richard Rickers, Jr., Chadwick Puterbaugh, Hollie Puterbaugh, Kellie Puterbaugh and Melanie Puterbaugh. Bea, in addition, had eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers: Tom, Elmer and Ervin Ladwig; two sisters, Leona Burkholz and an infant sister, Mabel Ladwig.