Obituary of Gretchen Beseth

Home: Hortonville, New York USA Place of Birth: Gary, Indiana USA Gretchen Beseth Hortonville, NY Gretchen Beseth, a longtime area resident, passed away on Thursday September 27, 2012 at Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris, NY. She was 74 years of age. The daughter of the late John and Grace Wright Garren, she was born on January 1, 1938 in Gary, Indiana. Gretchen was the widow of Fred J. Beseth. She was a member of the Liberty Presbyterian Church. Gretchen worked for the Community Resource Center of Sullivan County (formerly the Sullivan County Chapter of the NYS Assn for Retarded Children) for almost 37 years. Working there was more than a job to Gretchen, especially in the earlier years. She treated many of the children like members of the family, inviting them into her home for dinner or to spend the night. On one occasion she cared for one of the children for one week while his mother was in the hospital. Over the years she formed several lifelong friendships with the parents of the children she worked with. Many of her efforts were performed outside of her job, rewarded only by the difference she tried to make in their lives. Survivors include her son, Michael Beseth and Rose Tyler at home; daughter Connie and Larry Valenzuela of El Centro, CA; brother, David Garren and his wife Monica of Bayside, NY; sister, Grace Slater and her husband Lewis of Irvine, CA; sister-in-law Joan Garren of Levittown, NY; granddaughter, Daniella Cota and her husband Joe and one great-grandson, Joseph Cota and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Jack Garren. Friends may call on Thursday October 4 from 9 am to 11 AM at Ramsay's Funeral Home, 275 S. Main St. Liberty. Funeral services will be at the funeral home at 11 AM. Burial will be at Rural Cemetery in Grahamsville, NY following the services. Donations may be made in Gretchen's name to Sullivan County ARC, 162 East Broadway, Monticello, NY 12701. Funeral arrangements are by Ramsay's Funeral Homes Inc. Liberty, NY. For directions or to send a condolence to the family, please visit www.ramsaysfuneralhome.com.