Marilyn Jean Beach, 80, died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on December 27, 2024. She was under hospice care at Legacy Place in Valley City, ND.
Marilyn was born on June 1, 1944, in Richardton, ND. She was the eighth of Frank and Magdalena (Fleckenstein) Schumacher’s twelve children. She grew up on a farm south of Halliday, ND, where a strong work ethic was engrained in her. Marilyn spoke German at home and quickly learned English when she started school. Ever proud of her German-Russian heritage, she continued to speak German with her family, even reciting their traditional New Year’s greeting to her sisters just days before her passing.
In 1961 she graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Richardton. Marilyn worked as a telephone operator and saved enough money to travel through Europe with two of her sisters and close friends. They visited numerous countries by train, and she spoke of the sites and experiences they had throughout her life.
Marilyn attended college at UND in Grand Forks, where she met her husband, Claude Beach. They were married on June 16, 1973, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in rural Dodge, ND. The couple had four children before settling in Valley City, ND, in 1984. They worked to remodel their house and created a loving home where her talents shined through her cooking, baking, embroidery, and sewing.
Once her kids were in high school, Marilyn worked in the school system’s food program, earning recognition for her service as the “heart of the program.” As an active parishioner of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Valley City, she volunteered countless hours. After retiring, Marilyn took every opportunity to visit her children and their growing families; and traveled to several U.S. destinations with her daughter, Christy.
Marilyn is survived by her husband of 51 years, Claude; two daughters, Kathy (Jon) Somers of New Braunfels, TX, and Christy Beach of Washington, DC; two sons, Jonathan (Laura) Beach of Hutchinson, MN, and Ken Beach of Valley City, ND; and six grandchildren, Jocie, Aiden, Sydney, Elanor, Duncan, and Paul. She is also survived by two sisters, Sr. Johanna and Judith; and one brother, Duane. She was preceded in death by her parents; six sisters, Eva Schuh, Ann Schweitzer, Theresa, Sr. Francis, Diane Weber, and Charlotte Majic; and two brothers, Tony and Jim.
Marilyn cherished the bonds she had with her family and friends. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy, and her devotion to family was evident in everything she did. Marilyn loved roses, poetry, visiting over a cup of coffee, traveling, playing pinochle, and antiquing. When saying goodbye or good night, she often concluded with “I love you, and God bless you.” We will always remember Marilyn for her loving, compassionate, and kind spirit.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Friday, January 3, 2025 at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Valley City. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 2 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Lerud Mathias Funeral Home Chapel and one hour before the service at the church on Friday morning. A vigil service will be held at 7:00 PM Thursday evening at the funeral home. Inurnment will be in St. Catherine’s Catholic Cemetery. An online guestbook and livestream of Marilyn’s service will be available at www.lerudmathias.com