Mary Elizabeth “Beth” (Fried) Weller 1937 - 2016

FRIED, WELLER, HARRIS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen - volunteer (email)
Date: 1/14/2016 at 22:00:08

Mapleton Press
14 January 2016

Mary Elizabeth “Beth” (Fried) Weller was born at home on October 24, 1937 in Mapleton, Iowa. Her parents were Mary Elizabeth (Harris) Fried and James Russell Fried Sr. Beth was the oldest of four children: One sister Elvie Ann Parker of Keytsville, Missouri, two brothers James Russell Fried Jr. of Mapleton, Iowa and Victor Ernest Fried.

On August 28, 1952, Beth and Gailen Robert Weller were united in marriage in Sioux City, Iowa. To this union two children were born Gerald (Jerry) Ray Weller and Teresa (Teri) Kay Weller- Iverson. Beth and Gailen were married and best friend for almost 45 years before Gailen passed away July 15, 1997. Not bad for two dumb kids that were too young to get married.

When first married Gailen went to work for Western Electric. They had a very small trailer house (smaller than campers today) and moved a lot throughout Nebraska. They moved 27 times one year. They would just hook on and go to the next job location. They both loved the moving to new places and the new people. After 7 years they started their family. They still moved, just in a bigger trailer. They decided after the kids started school they would move them a max of once a school year. So Beth stayed in North Platte, Nebraska and Gailen went on the road with a little camping trailer. Beth really missed moving and having Gailen home every night. In 1970 Gailen was offered a promotion to get him off the road; the job was in Aurora, Colorado.

The Weller family moved to Bennett Christmas Eve Day of 1970. The big thing the kids missed was not having a place to swim. The rivers and creeks are dry in the summer. So as soon as the pool was built in 1972 Beth began teaching swimming and ended up running the pool for 15 years. She especially enjoyed teaching baby classes, the lifesaving classes, and running off the pool hoppers in the middle of the night.

Beth is a charter member of the Bennett Ambulance. When Bennett started their own ambulance, members went door to door to raise money to buy the first (used) ambulance. She was the first Treasurer. In 1973 Beth took her GED and got her high school diploma.

Beth worked at several jobs in the area along with pool: as a bartender in Bennett and Strasburg, employee supervisor at Nickerson Farms, but she always ended up going back to the Bennett Schools. She started out working in the kitchen, next as telephone receptionist, then high school attendance clerk. Returning to the school after several year absence, she worked in the library from 1990-2011. Even after retiring from school she would still sub when needed and did the holiday decorating in the Library.

After Gailen’s death Beth enjoyed spending a month in the summer every year with her daughter Teri in Iowa. Beth’s brother and his wife also live there . This was her old stomping grounds where she grew up, so a lot of old friends still lived around there. She enjoyed visiting and reminiscing about the old days.

Beth had cancer at the young age with 2 small children at home. Her wish then was to live long enough so her kids would remember her. She lived to be remember by her children her 8 grandchildren and her 14 great grandchildren. Her last wish was to have another Christmas with her family and she made that goal also!
She considered herself blessed.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gailen and her sister Elvie Parker.

She is survived by her Children Jerry (Sharon) Weller of Bennett, Teri (Greg) Iverson of Ute Iowa, a brother Jim (Diane) of Mapleton, Iowa, and sister-in-law Ethel White of Riverside, California.

Grandchildren: Scott (Griselda) Thrasher, Paula (Jason) Quynn, Heidi (William) Berkowitz, Jessica (Mark) Cowlishaw, Geremy (Mandy) Iverson, Gaila Iverson, Jim (Nubia) Toft, Katie (Mike) Muller.

Great Grandchildren: Brianna, Garrett and Aidin - Aspen, Tyler and Bry - Sami and Hannah - Michaela and Erica - Julia, Max, Isz and Jimi- and one on the way in February 2016, Mila.

Numerous nephews, nieces, Friends, and wonderful neighbors.

Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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