When she was seven, her family moved from there to Doty, WI, where Bea was the oldest living resident. Bea was an amazing storyteller, and she would often share her memories with her family and friends. This included the stories of the scars that she had on her knees from placing her head on the chalkboard and kneeling on beanbags in school as punishment for not being an "ideal" student. After school, Bea worked for Opal and Hank's Store. During World War II, she hauled milk and worked for Bucyrus-Erie in South Milwaukee. She first met her husband, Reinhold, at a birthday party when she was ten. When be returned from World War II, they got together and were married on January 22, 1946, in Menominee, Michigan. In May of 1946, they bought their current property in Doty for the cost of $5 per acre, and have lived there ever since, She worked for some time as a cook and waitress for Bud and Kate Erler, planted trees for the USDA Forest Service. and spent many years as the treasurer for the Town of Doty.
Bea enjoyed storytelling, quilting, and baking. It was a well-known fact that nobody left without food when visiting Bea. She also loved gardening, flowers, and shopping. Most of all, however, Bea loved other people. Always putting others first came naturally to such a good-hearted and generous person like Bea, She will be missed not only by her family, but by all who knew her.
Bea is survived by her husband, Reinhold of Doty; daughter, Darlene (Jack) Valentine of Oconto Falls; three sons, Gene (Linda) Elbe of Waukesha; Steven (Bette) Elbe of Suring; Joe (Deb) Elbe of Rice Lake; one sister, Bernice Flynn of Townsend; two sisters-in-law, Mary Statler of Green Bay and Minnie Statler of Townsend; eight grandchildren, Jason and Elizabeth (fiance Adam) Valentine, Rachel, Steve Jr. (Kandee),Manny, Sarah, Kelsey, and Saige Elbe; four great-grandchildren, Chy-anne, Luke, Sadie, and Shoni Elbe, and numerous other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Connie, Roy, Willard, Esther, Martha, Ethel and Joe.
Friends called on Monday, July 16, at the Forest Larger Presbyterian Church in Lakewood. Pastor Linda Martin led the funeral services at 2:00. Following services, Bea. was taken in formal procession to the Mountain Cemetery for burial. Suminski Funeral Home of Wabeno, (715) 473-3131, was given the privilege of handling the arrangements.