Bea Steiner

Bea Steiner was an energetic, adventurous woman who tried each day to share her happiness with her family and many friends. A devoted mother, she provided her daughters with the very best that she could. Bea was the happiest when she was with her family, and in their warm company a familiar smile always sat upon her lips.

The year 1913 marked a time of uncertainty, as tension between European countries forewarned the First World War. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, John Ten Cate and his wife Maude Musler looked ahead to a different future, the future of their family. They were expecting a child, and on February 20, 1913 they were blessed with the healthy birth of their daughter Beatrice.

One of four children, Beatrice grew up with the company of her older sister Marnie and her younger sister Pauline; her brother, John had passed away at the age of six months. While Beatrice's father provided for the family through his job as a fireman, her mother stayed at home to raise the children and tend to the chores. Beatrice was raised in a few different homes on the Northeast side of Grand Rapids. She attended Palmer Elementary School and then Creston High School. She left school to work for a family in East Grand Rapids, turning all of her earnings over to her father to help support the family. She always wished that she had graduated from high school, and in 1981 she pursued this ambition by earning her GED.

As the Great Depression clouded over the country, Beatrice continued to work hard to make ends meet. She soon met and fell in love with Frank Steiner. They were married in 1936. They both worked in factories, and they could afford little more than their apartment and a set of bed sheets. When Frank's mother took ill, Beatrice agreed that they should move into her home. Though it was not the best arrangement, they took care of Mom until she died.

Beatrice and Frank eventually settled into the home at 827 Lincoln Street N.W., the only house that he ever knew. After thirteen years they were blessed with the birth of their first child, Betty Lou and later Nancy. For Bea, everything was now secondary to being a mother. Though the family didn't have much money, she made certain that the girls never needed anything and that they never felt poor. Bea never said that the family couldn't afford something. Instead she would say, "Let's see what we can do about that." For example, if Nancy brought a nicely-dressed friend over to the house, Bea would often make an exact copy of the outfit.

Bea was an excellent cook. Her daughters have many memories of her working in the kitchen, especially at the church where she would prepare meals for the church and Kiwanis. Wallin Congregational was a second home for Bea. Her girls remember walking from school to church where they would have lunch with their mom before returning for afternoon classes. Bea was also very active at her daughters' school, volunteering as a room mother and a member of the PTA. She had a servant's heart. As her daughters remember, "Our mom always had time for us and our friends."

When Frank died in 1989, Bea began to reassess her life. In fact, she had a whole new lease on life. She got a cat, Cooner, who was good company. When Cooner got sick she didn't think she should get another cat. That lasted one day.... she didn't like being alone. Lacy joined her home and has now been adopted by her grandchildren. Bea often had a grandchild spend the night and loved to go out for lunch with them. One spring she took her grandchildren out to buy them all new shoes, telling them to pick whatever they wanted. She stocked her home with all of the children's favorite snacks and drinks - she wanted to make them feel at home, and of course, they couldn't help but feel at home. She never learned how to drive, but if you picked her up she would take you out to eat and pay for it. Her favorite places were Chinese restaurants, especially in Standale and Jenison.

Bea was an adventurous woman, always ready to take on life. She was up for anything new. If there was a new bridge, she wanted to drive across; if there was a new housing development, she wanted to explore it. After she completed an adventure, she would call up her sister Pauline and tell her about it. Even when her eyesight failed Bea remained as active and on-the-go as ever. She made nearly one thousand lap robes by hand which she donated to the Kent Community Hospital. She and her friend Marge would travel all over. Though Marge had a bad leg and Bea had little vision, they would hop into the car and simply drive somewhere, whether it was a trip to Ludington or dinner in Indiana. They even got themselves stuck on an unpaved road - and Bea had to walk to find help! These two women were partners in crime, always full of laughter and mischief.

Bea became a true social butterfly in her later years. She even joined TOPS, Take Off Pounds Sensibly, for the social interaction! She was well known at her church, where she always sat in the fourth row from the front on the left side. Her happiest memories involve her daughters and her many grandchildren. Every New Year's Eve, the grandkids competed to see who would be the first to call Grandma. No matter who won, everyone always called well before twelve-thirty.

Bea touched many hearts during her long lifetime. She loved to make people laugh and smile, and she always kept her family in the center of her thoughts. Among the many people who loved her, she will be greatly missed and frequently remembered.

Bea died peacefully on April 24, 2006. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank. Beatrice is survived by her family, Betty Lou & Stanley Kaye and Nancy & David Carlson; grandchildren, Diane and C.J., John and Caroline, Linnea and Ryan, Christine, and Dan; two dearly anticipated great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Friends may meet the family from 2-4 P.M. and 7-9 P.M. today at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes - Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel. The funeral service will be held at 7 P.M. on Thursday at Wallin Congregational Church, 1150 Oswego N.W. Interment in Oakhill Cemetery. Memorial contributions to Wallin Congregational Church Memorial Fund would be appreciated. Please visit Bea's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory or sign the guest book.