Beatrice Behrens

Beatrice Behrens, age 94 of Carroll, died Monday, June 25, 2012, at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 P.M. Friday at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Father Timothy Schott. Lector will be a grandson, Dan Behrens. Gift Bearers will be daughters, Kathy Grote, Aggie Kitt, and Nancy Reiling. Mass Servers will be great grandchildren, Kara, Katlyn, and Jacob Cowlham. Music will be by pianist Marcy Anderson and the St. Lawrence Choir. Communion Ministers will be Earl Wittrock, Dave Wittrock, and Dan Behrens. Casket Bearers will be her sons, Clete Behrens, Jerry Behrens, Gary Behrens, Wayne Behrens, Daryl Behrens, John E. Behrens, and Ardan Behrens. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:30 P.M. Thursday. A rosary will be prayed at 4 P.M. Thursday by the Templeton Catholic Daughters of America followed by a Christian wake service at 6 P.M. Thursday by St. Lawrence Parish. Visitation will resume at noon Friday at St. Lawrence Church until the time of the funeral mass. Online condolences may be left for Beatrice’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com. Beatrice was born on October 5, 1917, at Halbur, Iowa, the daughter of August and Ella Mary (Drees) Wittrock. She spent her younger years in the Halbur community and graduated from St. Augustine School. Following her formal education she worked for the Sievers Boarding House in Carroll for three years. Beatrice and John A. Behrens were united in marriage on May 7, 1940, at St. Augustine Church in Halbur. The couple farmed south of Roselle until 1983 when they retired and moved to Carroll. Beatrice was a farmer’s wife and a stay at home Mom while raising their ten children which was a role she cherished and loved. She was a member of St. Lawrence Parish, Parish Ladies Guild, Honorary Member of the Holy Angels Altar Society, and 60 year member of the Templeton Catholic Daughters of America. Beatrice enjoyed her family, gardening, reading, sewing, volunteering for her church and school, playing cards, and traveling, especially the Wind Star trips to Branson and the New Horizons Club. Beatrice is survived by her husband of 72 years John A. Behrens of Carroll; seven sons, Clete Behrens of Carroll, Jerry (June) Behrens of Denison, Gary (Sue) Behrens of Lincoln, Nebr., Wayne Behrens of Denison, Daryl (Lynne) Behrens of Muscatine, John E. (Lois) Behrens of Roselle, and Ardan (Brenda) Behrens of Maquoketa; three daughters, Kathy (Walt) Grote of Wall Lake, Aggie (Jim) Kitt of Dedham, and Nancy (Paul) Reiling of Lake View; 33 grandchildren; 60 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren; one sister, Mildred Sturm of Lake View; two brothers, Walter (LaVerne) Wittrock of Halbur and Earl (Vernell) Wittrock of Carroll; and a sister-in-law, Darlene Wittrock of Halbur. She was preceded in death by her parents; a grandson, John W. Behrens; a daughter-in-law, Sandy Behrens; sisters, Freda Wittrock, Bertilla Rohe, and Laura Joens; brothers, Victor Wittrock and P.F.C. Marvin Wittrock; brothers-in-law, Norbert Rohe, Lester Joens, and Ed Sturm; and parents-in-law, John and Elizabeth Behrens.

Beatrice Behrens

October 5, 1917 - June 25, 2012