'Monday's child is fair of face.'  Though Mom, never thought of herself has a beauty, she could hold her own.    And yes, Nancy, she lived to be 94, 4 months and 3 days old - the longest life of her generation, to date. 

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Born June 22, 1922 to Ernest and Pera Bauer in Broughton KS, Pera Beth died peacefully in her sleep on October 25, 2019.  Pera Beth was the fifth child out of seven surviving children and the oldest girl.  She grew up on a farm in Kansas, with sheep, chickens, steers, hogs, horses, dog, cats and even peacocks. She helped with a garden that would feed up to 10 people and enough left over to can for winter months.  She knew what it meant to work and help keep the homestead running smoothly.

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Pera Beth was Salutatorian for the entire county in the 8th grade and graduated From Clay Center High School in 1943.  After 2 years of college, Pera Beth married Gene Swenson, who preceded her with his death on 2/4/2019.  Their life together extended the breadth of the US from Oakland, CA to Southport, CT.  They had two children and divorced in 1972. 

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Pera Beth owned and operated the Wyoming Pastry Shop in Cincinnati, OH for many years until moving to Wichita, KS where she was an Administrator of the law firm that one of her nephews worked.  She grew close to his family, falling in love with their children and being like another grandmother for Ann and Martin's children.  In 1985, Pera Beth moved to Denver, CO to be close to her two children.

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With her love of the outdoors and hiking, Pera Beth met her soul mate in Bill Eichelberger.  They were married in September, 1989. They had 30 wonderful years together traveling the world, starting an in-home elder care company in Denver, spending time with their families and making a loving home together.

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Pera Beth's last summer with us would see her shrink and whither into half the person we remember, but her wit and mind were still quite sharp.  Her body just had enough, but with that hardy mid-western attitude, she would hardly let any one know how badly she felt.

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She will always be my mother and we will always keep her memories in our hearts.  And what memories we do have of her.  She was an amazing woman, from running the Wyoming Pastry Shop, learning how to fly, successfully managing legal offices, starting The Washington Park Cares senior in-home care service, while maintaining a home, completing wonderful needlepoint, sewing and knitting projects and raising two children.  She knew what she wanted and was never afraid to speak her mind, regardless of the consequences.  

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I was happy, and sad, to be with her in her last moments alive, to hold her hand and tell her that 'I love you, Mom'.

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Vitals

- Born June 22, 1925 on a Monday

- Mother, grandmother, great-grandmother,      wife, aunt, sister, friend

- Died Friday, October 25, 2019​

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Memorial Service:

By her wishes, Pera Beth will be cremated and interred in the All Souls' Walk at St. John's Cathedral in Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday, 11/6/19. 

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Celebration of Life Party:

We will not be having a special party in her memory. 

 

I want to say Thank You to all of you who continue to keep Pera Beth in your hearts and for all your well wishes and thoughts.    

 

Please share any memories you have with us all, either in the Stories or Comments pages. 

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