Betty Jane Kraft Beechy, 73, of Sturgis, Michigan, died Saturday afternoon, May 14, 2016 in Brookdale Senior Living Solutions, Medina, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Betty was born May 17, 1942 in Logan, the daughter of the late Mort and Helen (Bright) Kraft. She was a 1960 graduate of Wooster High School and moved to Loudonville following her July 18, 1962 marriage to Richard D. “Dick” Beechy. After 23 years in Loudonville she moved to Sturgis in 1985 before moving to Medina in March of 2016. Betty was a teaching aide for special needs children in Sturgis Public Schools before retiring in 2015. She enjoyed playing cards with friends, working in her yard, but her grandchildren and Dachshund, “Pepsi”, were her true loves. Betty was a former member of Zion Lutheran Church, Loudonville.
She is survived by her two sons, Richard D. (Kelly) Beechy II of Strongsville and Eric Beechy of Bellevue, NE; her daughter, Debra (Kristin LeBlanc) Beechy of Portland, OR; her 3 grandchildren, Allyson and Jaret Beechy and Erika Beechy; her sister, Barb Westfall of Wooster; and 3 brothers-in-law, Greg (Connie) Beechy of Loudonville, Tom (JoAnn) Beechy of Douglasville, GA, and Chris Beechy of Ashland. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 50 years, Dick, who died May 1, 2012, and her brother, Larry Kraft.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 20, 2016 at 2 p.m. in Lindsey Funeral Home, Loudonville with Rev. Scott Henderson officiating. Burial will follow in Loudonville Cemetery. Friends may call one hour prior to services (1-2 p.m.) in Lindsey Funeral Home. There will also be calling hours Thursday, May 19 from 6-8 p.m. in Hackman Family Funeral Home, Sturgis Michigan. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.Byerly-Lindsey.com.
