05/21/2016

Obituary for Martha Elizabeth “Betty” Behm

The Behm Family Funeral Homes, Inc.

Martha Elizabeth “Betty” Behm, a life-long Perry/Madison resident, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, aunt, businesswoman, encourager and friend to many died Friday, May 20, 2016.

She was born August 19, 1919, in Perry, to Ralph Ewart & Martha Anna (nee Averill) Shepard.  Betty grew up on the family farm on Shepard Road, graduated from Perry High School and Central School of Practical Nursing in Cleveland.  She married Wilford N. Behm on December 24, 1941 at her family home in Perry.

She was a partner with her husband in the family owned Behm Funeral Home founded in 1906 by Wilford’s parents, Walter C & Alta E. Behm. Upon Wilford’s death at age 40 in 1961. Betty devoted her time to managing the Behm Funeral Home with the help of Thomas Stanton, a licensed Embalmer/Funeral Director while raising her 5 children, rarely missing an event important to the children. In later years, Betty continued to be a mentor to her children and others in the business. 

She is remembered as being at the funeral home, always with a smile and encouraging word. Betty brought out the best in people and reached out to others with uplifting notes, deliveries of Melrose apples, homemade relish and cookies for over 60 years.  She especially enjoyed decorating her front door for each season for the enjoyment of the community.

Betty received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Perry High School in 2010. She was a founding and charter member and served on the board of the Madison

Chamber of Commerce. She was so proud when the Madison/Perry Area Chamber of Commerce awarded the Behm Family Funeral Home Business of the Year in 1996.

Betty was a 25 year member and former president of the Madison Public Library Board's present library building and was instrumental in starting the Friends of the Library and the current facility.  She was a member of Park United Methodist Church, the Western Reserve Fine Arts, Progress Club, Madison, Perry & Jefferson Historical Societies.  She enjoyed people, traveling, Mr. Swaby’s woodworking, reading, bowling, stamp collecting and being positive. Most of all Gram Behm enjoyed staying in touch with her family and friends.

She is survived by many wonderful friends and her children, Valerie A. Behm of Madison, Marcine (Ray) Petrea of Euclid, Michael (Eileen) Behm of Geneva, Timothy (Jeanette) Behm of Madison and Wilford “Ford” (Deborah) Behm II of Geneva; 12 grandchildren; TJ (Dr. Melissa), Kate (Lee), Clinton, Karen (Sarah), Nick, Trevor (Julie), Courtney, Chester, Edward, Frank (Sue), Brenda (Willie) and Deborah (J.R.); 18 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews, Debbie, Connie, Linda, David, John, Tom and Jeffery.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilford; parents; sister, Marjorie Lu Brockway; brothers, John L. Shepard II and Daniel Ralph Shepard; sister-in-law, Rita Shepard, great-grandchildren Thomas Allen Behm and Avery Elizabeth Jenkins.

Friends may call 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Sunday, May 22, 2016 at The Behm Family Funeral Homes, 26 River Street, Madison, Ohio 44057.

Funeral Service will be 11 a.m. on Monday, May 23rd. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Madison.

Contributions would be appreciated to "FRIENDS OF MADISON PUBLIC LIBRARY,"

 6111 Middle Ridge Road, Madison, OH  44057.  In memo line please include "Gram's Children Fund." The Library Children’s Fund was initiated by Betty’s grandchildren on her 90th birthday to celebrate her love of children and lifelong love of reading.