Beth Pranger

For Beth Pranger, life was about living, loving, and family. She was a creative woman who brought her vibrant and fun-loving spirit to everything she did. Wherever her journey in life found her, Beth’s unending, quiet faith remained constant. She will be deeply missed.

The end of World War II brought much prosperity to America. Movies continued to be a favorite pastime, and Frank Sinatra’s song, “New York, New York” was a big hit. Industry was soaring, and the new Buick Roadmaster was the shape of things to come for the auto industry. The post-war baby boom was booming in its’ own right with new housing developments and making family dreams come true. It was during this time in Sioux City, Iowa when a beautiful baby girl was born on September 27, 1949. Given up for adoption, little Beth was just a few months old when she was lovingly placed into the arms of her adoptive parents, Harry and Sadie (Bosma) Hoekstra.

Beth brought much joy to the lives of her parents and joined her older brother, Robert in their family home. Their family grew to include two additional children when Larry and Gretta came along. From an early age, faith was instilled in Beth’s life and she always held it close. As farmers in the small community of Ocheyedan, Iowa, there was plenty of work to go around. Their farm included crops as well as animals. Although most of Beth’s chores were indoors helping her mother, she also walked the bean fields, and it was her responsibility to clean the chicken coops.

Life for Beth was not all work and no play. She learned to play the piano and organ as a young girl, and found her share of mischief while enjoying loads of adventure. Alongside her mother, Beth grew to love and enjoy gardening, and she and her mother canned many of their own vegetables. After eventually leaving the farm, Beth continued to love gardening, but mostly plants and a variety of flowers. Over time she taught her gardening skills to her own daughter. Having attended Ocheyedan Christian School, Beth graduated from Harris Lake Park High School.

In the throes of anti-war demonstrations, racial tensions and an evolving culture, it was during this time when Beth’s cousin introduced her to a young enlisted man. John Pranger served in the U.S. Army and after being introduced, he and Beth began writing many letters to one another. After falling in love, the two were happily married in May of 1970. Stationed in Ft. Benning, Georgia, they began their life together there as husband and wife until John’s eventual discharge. They returned to Iowa for a brief time before moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Their family came to include two children, Matthew and Patricia “Trish”. Beth provided a wonderful home for her children and loved meeting the needs of her family. Along with being a loving mother and homemaker, Beth began working at Chem Central, and later for Root-Lowell in the position of bookkeeper. Her open door and welcoming spirit was often a refuge for many of her kid’s friends, and many of them came to call her mom. When the kids were young, most weekends were spent enjoying the racetrack or snowmobiling, and many trips were enjoyed traveling to Iowa to visit her many friends there. She often liked talking on the CB radio with truckers, using her infamous handle, “the book keeper”. She liked the open road and with her love for travel, Beth would have loved the life of a trucker, especially the opportunity to see the country along the way.

Beth and the kids eventually moved to Lowell, Michigan where she began running horse stables and a tack shop. She was truly in her element working with the horses, and became quite good at it.

After her second marriage ended, Beth returned home to Grand Rapids. She again worked as a bookkeeper, and later used her bookkeeping skills for the district manager of Avon. She also became a sales representative, becoming quite involved in the company. She possessed a great ability for sales which exceeded all her expectations, and she even earned a Rose Circle Award. Fridays were always welcome as she looked forward to the delivery of her orders. It was also a chance to enjoy a cup of coffee with the delivery driver whom she befriended. A friend to many, she easily made friends wherever she went, but always appreciated her longtime, faithful friends.

More recently, Beth worked as a telephone operator for Cunningham Communications. Throughout the ten years she was there, her position provided her with many opportunities to meet people from various walks of life. She met doctors, plumbers, and those from various businesses. As a result, she knew many people by name, and had referrals for family and friends based on her experiences. In all areas, Beth never sat still for long. She was always busy doing something, and usually prevailed in everything she set her mind to. Whatever the task or project at hand, Beth put her all into it as a hard and dedicated worker. Her creative and inventive side allowed her to make beautiful pieces of jewelry, many which she sold at area craft shows. For the last few years, Beth managed her son's photography website. It didn’t matter what Beth had her hand in, she always enjoyed it along the way.

With her giving heart, Beth loved giving to others. She made gorgeous afghans, cozy slippers, “button monsters”, baby clothes, blankets and even a bedspread. Her homemade items were often treasured Christmas gifts. Although not necessarily a neat and tidy person, Beth was very organized just the same. Everything had a place and that is where she expected it to be. In all she did, Beth tried to plan it out. Even when planting her garden, she often made scale drawings of her plants as a blueprint before even attempting to actually plant them. Blessed with grandchildren, Beth loved them deeply and was in her glory making them things.

When Beth became ill several years ago, it proved to be a trying time for her. As her health slowly deteriorated over time, it soon intensified last year. From her mobility and dexterity to her thinking patterns and speech, it was clear that something was significantly wrong. Her usual abundance of energy waned, and she simply was not in good health. Diagnosed with liver problems, Beth traveled to Detroit for a liver transplant on Tuesday, November 2, and sadly passed away during the procedure on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at the age of 61.

Since she was a young girl, faith was instilled in Beth Pranger’s heart. Wherever her journey through life took her, her faith was something in which she could rely. Although she may not have been too vocal about it, it was truly a part of her, and was evident to those who knew and loved her. Beth will be forever missed and fondly remembered for her vibrant spirit, hard work and ability to overcome.

Beth is survived by her children: Matthew (Rebecca) Pranger and Patricia “Trish” Pranger; grandchildren: Taylor, Zachary, Aaron and Sierra; brothers and sister: Robert (Ruth) Hoekstra, Larry Hoekstra, Gretta (Duane) Nomansen; many nephews and cousins. A service to celebrate her life will be held on Monday, November 8, 2010, 3:00 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home–Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW where friends may visit her family from 2:00 PM until the service. For those who wish, memorial contributions to either the Renucci Hospitality House or Holt International Adoption Agency are appreciated. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo of Beth or to sign her online guest book.