Arline Kathrine Beyersdorf

Arline Katherine Beyersdorf, age 86, of Marshall, peacefully went home to her Lord from her home, while in the loving care of her family, on Tuesday morning, October 17, 2006. Arline was born June 19, 1920 in Racine, Wisconsin to Romeo and Edith (Lahay) Tessier. She graduated from Menominee High School in 1938, and attended a year of business school after that. In high school she met and fell in love with Herbert Beyersdorf Jr. . The couple were married on August 23, 1941 in Menominee. Like many young women then, Arline worked and kept the couple''s home while Herb served with the U.S. Coast Guard during WWII. She was a homemaker and mother raising their family of four daughters with Herb. Prior to their oldest daughter''s birth, Arline worked at Lauerman''s Department Store in Menominee. The couple moved around the country to accommodate Herb''s work. They resided also in Franklin and Jasper, Indiana, Kalamazoo, Portland, Oregon, and Rockford,Illinois. After their daughters were older, she again returned to the work force working in Kalamazoo at the former KVP Paper Mill in their engineering department. She also managed an apartment building in Rockford, Illinois. Arline and Herb moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1987, and lived there until January of 2005 when they moved to Marshall. While in Mesa, they spent summer months traveling together in their motor home visiting friends and family all over the country. Arline enjoyed visiting every single state, including Alaska and Hawaii with Herb. The couple also enjoyed trips to Asia. Arline was a devout member of the Catholic Church, which she loved. In Marshall, she was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. She served her church in many ways all through her life. She was a Eucharistic Minister for All Saints Catholic Church in Mesa. At her parish in Portland, OR, she was a lector. With husband Herb, she spent many hours volunteering for St. Vincent de Paul Society in Mesa. In her fleeting spare time, Arline enjoyed reading books and going to movies. She liked to play bridge, and was known to her family as a ruthless "Mexican Train" domino player. She was a wizard with ceramics. Arline was a talented dancer. She and Herb enjoyed square dancing, ball room dancing, and swing dancing. The couple won prizes for their swing dancing style. Her greatest joys were time with family, especially her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchild. All four daughters remember how their mother was always a loving mother, and was supportive of them at all times. Arline is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 68 years, Herbert; their daughters and son-in-laws, Kathy and Ralph Miller of Marshall, Pat and Frank Thompson of Red Oak, Texas, Susan Beach and Richard White of Forest Park, IL and Karen Fritz of Portland, OR; 9 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild; and her brother, Robert Tessier of Culver, WI. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her son-in-law, Ray Fritz. Friends may call at Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home on Thursday, Oct. 19, from 9AM to 9PM, where the family will be present to greet friends and share memories from 5PM to 8PM. A Rosary will be recited at the funeral home on Thursday evening at 7PM. Funeral mass will be held on Friday at 9:30A.M. at St. Mary Catholic Church with Rev. Stephen Naas officiating. Interment will follow in Ft. Custer National Cemetery. The family suggests that friends who wish may direct memorial contributions to Marshall House Activities Fund or Great Lakes Hospice. Assistance with memorials is available at Kempf Funeral Home.