Maxine Beethe

Leona Maxine Beethe, a longtime resident of Burlington, Colorado passed away on Thursday, April 23, 2015, at Good Samaritan Society – Fort Collins Village, in Fort Collins, Colorado. Born Leona Maxine Pearson on July 25, 1922, in Waverly, a farming community in eastern Nebraska. The daughter of Ernest and Nellie Pearson, she was the second of three children. She graduated from Waverly High School in 1940. Soon after graduation she moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where she was employed as a staff member of the Lincoln Chieftain, the local newspaper. During her time at the newspaper she met the love of her life, Raymond Beethe. On December 30, 1942, Maxine and Ray were united in marriage at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. Upon Ray’s graduation from medical school in Omaha, their first move was to Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. During this assignment, their first child, Ray Jr. (Bud), was born in 1947. In 1948, the family moved to Burlington where Ray established his medical practice on 14th Street. This practice would last forty years. Maxine and Ray had two more sons, Scott (1954) and Kip (1958). Maxine and Ray were active members of Trinity Lutheran Church and the Burlington community until Maxine moved to Fort Collins in 2008 following her husband’s death. Maxine will always be remembered as a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed cooking reading and painting. The entire family always marveled at her skills in the kitchen and she was often called by those wanting her recipes and advice. Those left to cherish her memories are her three sons and their families. Bud and wife Candia of Manitou Springs, Scott and wife Jeanne of Fort Collins, and Kip and wife Poppy of Denver. Also surviving are her grandchildren: Amanda Beethe of New York City, NY, Clay Beethe of Anchorage, AK, Scotty Beethe of Denver, Anne Beethe of Gastonia, NC and Sarah Beethe of Denver. The family extends their sincere appreciation to all Good Samaritan staff for the excellent care Maxine received as her health declined. Maxine’s friends, Christine and Pam, will always be cherished for the many things they did for Maxine with great love on a daily basis. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Good Samaritan Society – Fort Collins Village (508 West Trilby Road, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525) and Burlington High School Music Department which may be left at the Bank of the West in Burlington.