Beryl N. Laswell
1918 - 2019
Obituary
Beryl N. Laswell, 101, passed away
Monday (Nov. 4, 2019) at Newton Presbyterian Manor. She was born on
Sept. 24, 1918, to Albert and Bertha Meisterhans Rutschman in rural
Whitewater.
In her early years, Beryl attended the
Swiss Mennonite Church in Whitewater and in the 1940s she became a
member of the EUB Church in Newton, which eventually became Salem
United Methodist Church.
Beryl and Roy Laswell were married Aug.
28, 1941, in Belleville, and celebrated 61 years together until his
passing on Dec. 31, 2002. Her greatest joy was when the children
came, then the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and she loved
each one dearly. As she never knew either of her grandmothers because
they were in Switzerland, her ambition was to be a good grandma and
great-grandma and she was the absolute best.
When the children were in high school,
Beryl worked at Ben Franklin Variety Store for a number of years
until its closing. Beryl loved to cook and bake for her family and
enjoyed sharing cinnamon rolls with family and friends. It was
important for her to be a good neighbor. She enjoyed going fishing
with Roy or the children or grandchildren after he passed, working in
the yard and her flower garden, arranging flowers and feeding the
squirrels. She was creative and during the last decade spent many
hours making personalized birthday, get well and other cards for
family and friends.
Beryl was able to remain in the home
she shared with Roy until a stroke in April 2019 took away much of
her mobility. She made so many new friends at Presbyterian Manor and
each one was special to her.
Beryl was preceded in death by her
parents; her husband, Roy; son, Duane in 1992; grandson, Albert Leal
in 1989; granddaughter, Jenette Laswell in 2011; siblings, Paul
Rutschman, Margaret Gronau and Alberta Covalt; and her cats: Newman,
Max, Lop and Loofy.
She is survived by her son, Gary
(Trudy) of Puyallup, Washington; daughter, Kathleen Leal of Newton;
grandchildren, Chris Leal, Sarah (Russ) Atherton and Betty Chappell;
great-grandchildren, Brandon Leal, Taylor Leal and Michael McCarter
McGraw; and sister-in-law, Martha Rutschman. Beryl is also survived
by two special nieces, Susan (Bob) Mayer and Sharon (Bill) Tolle, who
considered her a second mother after the deaths of theirs; three
additional nieces; five nephews; other extended family members and
friends; and her much loved puppy, Bolt.
Friends may call from 1 until 8 p.m.
Monday (Nov. 11, 2019), with the memorial service at 2 p.m. Tuesday
(Nov. 12, 2019), both at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home. Interment
will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.
A memorial has been established with
Caring Hands Humane Society in Newton. Contributions may be sent to
Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS 67114.
Condolences may be left at
www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial
Funeral Home, Newton.
