Beatrice Mae (Richards) BURT

RICHARDS, BURT, HOOD, OLSON, PETERSON, FRANZEN, HAGAN, BARRICK, WILSON, HOLT, BELSTENE, SCHLUTTENHOFER, HENNIGAR, LUNDE, FOSS, MASON, HOVE, RADMER, ARESON, OBRIEN, KITE, BLAKE, STOCK, DORENKAMP, ANDERS, VAN DYKE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:03

May 30, 1926 ---- February 6, 2020

Beatrice Mae Richards Burt, daughter of Clarence and Mary Richards, wife of John (Jack) R. Burt, passed away February 6, 2020 at the age of 93. She was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist Church. Prior to her final residence at the Clarion Meadows Assisted Living, she and Jack resided at the Belmond Belle Haven Assisted Living, their home at Lake Cornelia, Clarion, Iowa, and their farm home 3 miles west of Rowan, Iowa.

Her body was given for medical research and a memorial celebration is being planned perhaps in the spring on Memorial Day. She was born on Memorial Day.

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Beatrice Mae Richards Burt, daughter of Clarence and Mary Richards, wife of John (Jack) R. Burt, died Feb. 6, 2020 at the age of 93. Her body was given for medical research, and a memorial celebration is being planned for the spring.

Prior to her final residence at the Meadows Assisted Living in Clarion, she and Jack resided at Belle Haven Assisted Living in Belmond, their home at Lake Cornelia, and their farm home three miles west of Rowan.

Bea was born on Memorial Day, May 30, 1926, in Dows at her grandma’s home, who was a midwife. She was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist Church. Her home was originally in Osage where her parents owned a grocery store. They later moved to Dows where she attended school, graduating in 1944. After taking some business courses she was employed at Farmer’s State Bank in Dows. She moved to Des Moines and was employed in the accounting department of Northwestern Bell Telephone.

Bea married John Burt in 1947 and moved with him to Chicago where he attended Interstate Commerce School and she worked at Southern Bell Telephone. Then they moved to Mason City where Jack was hired by the chamber of commerce and she was hired by Sieg Auto Parts in the regional office as receptionist and file clerk.

Daughter Pamela Ann was born in 1949 in Mason City. Soon after, Jack’s father decided to retire from farming in the Rowan area, so Jack and his brother Donald decided to take over the farm. A rural schoolhouse was purchased and remodeled for them to call home. Second daughter Mary-Louise was born there in 1951. In 1960, twin daughters Cynthia Jane and Sarah Renee completed the family.

Faith played a big part in family life. Bea and Jack were active as church youth leaders, Sunday school teachers, and served on many committees. As a young girl she helped as a Girl Scout leader in Dows. When her daughters grew up she was a 4-H leader, Blue Bird leader, and active in their school events. She helped her mother-in-law with large gardens each summer. Her hobbies included sewing for her daughters, reading, decorating her home (especially holidays) and painting pictures. She loved the Rowan community, the Come Join Us Club, Saturday morning coffee at the Rowan Community Center, dancing with Jack, and playing 500 and bridge with friends. After Jack retired they travelled to visit friends and family in many states, Canada, Mexico and Europe, where daughter Pam lived.

Daughters moved away, graduated in their chosen fields, married, and presented them with six grandchildren, two step- grands, seven great-grands. Visiting and caring for them was a special joy.

Her community involvement included the Rowan Legion Auxiliary, Clarion Loan Closet, chairing the electronic absentee ballot board, Unlimited Opportunities Board of Wright County, and secretary of the Lake Cornelia Improvement Association where Jack built a lake house for them to enjoy for 30 years.

Bea was preceded in death by her husband on Feb. 13, 2018. They had been married 71½ years. Other loved ones were her parents; in-laws James and Laura Burt; brothers-in-law Donald Burt and Paul Dean (Jo) Burt and their son Roger; Bea’s sister Norma (Bill) Hood; Douglas Hood; brother-in-law Dennis Olson; grandson Vance Peterson; niece Barbara Franzen; and nephew Jeffrey Burt.

Survivors are daughters Pamela (Tim) Hagan of Rush City, MN, Mary-Louise Burt of the Burt Century Farm near Rowan, Cynthia Jane Burt of Milford, and Sarah (Murray) Barrick of Austin, TX; grandchildren Ian and Julie Hagan of Phoenix, AZ, Michael and Dana Hagan of Champlin, MN and their children Mason, Harlow and Pierce Jon, Jeffrey Peterson of Denver, CO, Courtney Barrick and Katie Wilson of Minneapolis, and Jennifer and Lucas Holt of Austin, TX; sister-in-law Jean Burt of Belmond and her children Steven Burt of Rowan and his children Barry, Kim and Keith Belstene, Randi Burt, Randy and Marcia Burt of Rowan; sister Joann Olson and children Karen Schluttenhofer and Al Hennigar, Becky and Mark Lunde, and Denise and Todd Foss; sister Joyce Mason and daughter Dawn Hove of Apple Valley, CA, and Joyce’s son Jim Mason and Deb of Virginia; Steve and Sharon Hood and Gene Hood of Rockford, IL; Tom Burt and Laura Radmer and Tommy Burt of Chandler, AZ; Dave Burt and Jennie Areson and Samantha O’Brien of Palisade, CO; Susan Burt and Ron Kite and Missy of Broomfield, CO; Laura and Joshua Blake of Wasilla, AK; Stephanie Burt of Oregon; Derek and Jill Burt; Joslyn and Adam Stock; Mark and Melissa Dorenkamp; Nancy and David Anders; Kara and Neal Van Dyke; Kylee and Eric Lamb; Erin Burt and Owen Leerar; Eric and Kristi Burt and son Max; plus more nieces and nephews and great-grandchildren.

Belmond Independent -- Belmond, Iowa
February 18, 2020