Maribeth Dee “Beth” (Moomey) Litwiller

Beth Litwiller, age 59, of Perrinton, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly the evening of Sunday, February 2, 2014, without a chance to say goodbye and two days short of celebrating her 60th birthday.

She was born on February 4, 1954, in Alma, the daughter of Russell and Hattie (Guthrie) Moomey.  On August 29, 1975, she was united in marriage to Ron Litwiller.  They spent just over 38 short years together.

Beth spent her childhood growing up on a farm west of Alma with her parents.  In her teen years, together with her parents, they started a dairy farm with a herd of Jersey cows.  She would show those same jersey cows at the Gratiot County Fair for youth and state dairy shows.  She graduated from Alma High School in 1972.

Once married, Beth and her husband, Ron, purchased a farm just south of Perrinton.  It would be on that farm they would raise their family.  Along with the much needed help on their dairy farm, Beth also worked 15 years for Michigan Livestock Exchange.  She greatly enjoyed and loved every friend she made through her job at the auction and farm companies where she worked.  She was currently employed at Farmers Livestock Marketing in Battle Creek.

Beth was a woman of many talents.  She had a very special gift for sewing and knitting.  With this gift she graced many homes, including her own, with many blankets, quilts, and other pieces of her work.  She especially loved baby blanket sew in day,where all of the blankets made on that day were donated to those in need.

Hands down, Beth loved the farm life, it could be trucking cattle with her husband, taking a ride on the gator with her grandsons, or pulling weeds in her flower beds.  She was all smiles whenever she talked about things happening on the farm.

For her sons, she wasn’t just their mom.  She was their 4-H leader; helping with their many projects over the years.  She also spent many hours driving them to rodeos and roping events across the state.  As they grew older, her wise advice and listening ear has helped them become the men they are today.  They say in many ways they will be lost without her.

Surviving is her husband of 38 years, Ron Litwiller; three sons, Jed (Kellie) Litwiller of Alma, Kevin Litwiller of Perrinton, and Dustin (Angela) Litwiller of Ithaca; her grandsons, Zane Litwiller and Dalton Whitaker of Alma; her in-laws, Ardis (Rosalie) Litwiller of Middleton; Uncle Tommy and Lizzie Guthrie, of Hemlock; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Raymond and Gladys Litwiller of Buhl, Idaho, Carol and Paul Schultz of Ithaca, Kendell and Carolyn Litwiller of Ithaca, Gaila and Van Litwiller of Ithaca, Bonetta and Abe Loewen of Glenn, CA, and Phyllis and Jon Schmidt of Middleton.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and a special cousin, Kenneth Moomey.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 7, at the Newark Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, located at 3120 W. Johnson Rd., Ithaca, Michigan 48847, with ministers Jeff Litwiller and Mike Litwiller officiating.  Interment will be in Fulton Center Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., Thursday, February 6, at the church.  The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca.