Beryl Rich

Beryl L. Rich, 90 of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Friday, November 01, 2013, at the Henry County Health Center. Visitation will be held on Monday, November 04, 2013, from 12 noon until 6:00 p.m., at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel. The family will greet friends from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., at the Memorial Chapel that evening. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 05, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Deborah Stowers and Joan Rogers, Director of Lay Ministries, officiating. Burial will be in Forest Home Cemetery. A memorial has been established for First United Methodist Church. Born at home, in rural Mt. Pleasant, on October 3, 1923, Beryl Lorene was the daughter of Roy H. and Minnie A. LaMar Barton. She graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1942 and attended Iowa Wesleyan College where she earned her teaching certificate. On March 6, 1949, Beryl married Melvin Rich. He survives. Spending 20 years in the field of education, Beryl taught in rural schools of Henry County for 10 years and another 10 years in Mt. Pleasant elementary schools. She served 20 years as a secretary at the Mental Health Institute, the initial three years in Nursing Education and the latter 17 years in Vocational Rehabilitation. She retired in 1985. Beryl was a member of First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant, where she served as a Sunday school teacher and was a member of United Methodist Women. She was a long time member of West Side Mothers' Club, holding a variety of positions throughout the years. She was a past member and officer in the Trenton American Legion Auxiliary and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary in Mt. Pleasant. She was a member of Coterie Club. Especially interested in history, Beryl completed numerous scrapbooks depicting people, places, and activities of Henry County, as well as researching and making note of family history. In the fall of 1984, at the suggestion of Nellie Trueblood, they compiled a commemorative booklet about Prairie Gem School, Number Nine, Tippecanoe Township. Along with her husband Melvin, of 64 years, Beryl is survived by a daughter, Karen J. (Brian) Carter of Mt. Pleasant; a son, Curtis R. Rich of West Des Moines, IA; two sisters, Wilma (Sam) Roberts of Springville, UT and Vivian Hildebrand of Wayland, IA. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Kimberly Carter and Amy Carter, both of Iowa City, Hilary Rich of Jefferson City, MO, and Nathan Rich of Kirkland, WA, along with in-laws, nephews, and nieces. Beryl was preceded in death by her parents; an infant sister, Edith; a brother, Rex Barton; three brothers-in-law; two sisters-in-law; and a nephew.