Beth Mongeau

Gentle and compassionate, Beth Mongeau put the needs of others before her own. Honest to a fault, you always knew where you stood with her and she never held back from sharing her opinions. A loving wife, daughter and sister, Beth will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered.

In a year when the average price of a home was $23,000 and a gallon of gas was $.36, many events of 1970 helped shape the future in the US. The first Boeing 747 commercial flight to London, the Apollo 13 space mission and the breakup of the Beatles were just a few of the significant events of that year. On March 27, 1970, Edward and Leanne (Buckius) Goldberg had a significant event of their own when they welcomed their daughter Elizabeth Anne in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. Elizabeth, or Beth, joined her older brother Jeff. Later, the arrival of Eric and Steve would complete their family. To support their growing household, Edward managed a restaurant and Leanne worked at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing.

Growing up on a lake in Dewitt, Beth had a wonderful childhood, spending her time swimming in the summer and ice skating in the winter with her brothers. She shared a close bond with her brothers and they delighted in playing pranks on each other. Beth attended the local schools, graduating from Dewitt High School in 1988.

While in high school, Beth dated a young man, Steve Mongeau who was a year older than her. They enjoyed their time in high school together, but when Steve joined the Navy during Beth’s junior year, they decided it would be best to date other people. As fate would have it, when Steve returned from the Navy in 1994, he and Beth reconnected and started seeing each other again. They soon discovered that they were meant for each other and with a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, the couple happily married on May 31, 1996 at St. Therese Catholic Church in Lansing.

Beth and Steve never had children but they enjoyed a full and happy life. Trips up north to the family cottage at School Section Lake in Mecosta County were always something they relished and looked forward to. They shared a love of hard rock music dating back to their high school days with Guns and Roses, Def Leppard, Led Zeppelin, and Metallica among some of their favorite bands. Steve benefitted from Beth’s love of cooking, whether it was a juicy steak, a tender filet or a delicious rack of lamb. She was definitely a foodie – if she wasn’t in her own kitchen, she was watching a cooking show on TV. Their cat, Mystique, or Tiki, was truly their fur baby and a part of the family.

In her quieter times, Beth could be found watching Downton Abbey or Masterpiece Theater on PBS, or any of the Harry Potter movies. A bit of a history buff, Beth soaked up historical information at every opportunity. She loved medieval history and Shakespeare, with Richard III as her favorite play. She had a wonderful sense of humor and could tell a joke with the best of them!

In early 2023, Beth was not feeling well and decided to see her doctor. Life took an unexpected turn when it was discovered that she had a brain tumor. Tough as always, she faced this challenge head on, with Steve by her side. Steve always felt a fitting Shakespeare quote that described Beth was, “..though she be but little, she is fierce!.” She underwent surgery and the tumor was successfully removed, but she was left with nerve damage that affected her ability to breathe. True to her character, even when she was not feeling well, she was more concerned about Steve and making sure that he was fed and well taken care of than she was about herself.

Loyal and compassionate you could always trust that Beth Mongeau would be forthright and give you her honest opinion. You always knew where you stood with her and she would never talk behind your back. Her openness and honesty will be deeply missed, but we can honor her memory each time we do a good-hearted prank, care selflessly for others, listen to a classic Led Zeppelin song or learn a new bit of history. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Elizabeth Anne “Beth” Mongeau died on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. Members of her family include her husband, Steve; her parents: Edward Goldberg (Pauline) and Leanne (Mike pre-deceased) Walker; 2 brothers: Steven Goldberg, Eric and his wife Melissa and their daughter Cassie, and a niece, Kayla Goldberg; daughter of her brother Jeff, who preceded her in death. Cremation has taken place and private services will be held at a later date.

Visit Beth’s webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com to archive favorite memories, photos, and sign her guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to Kalamazoo Animal Rescue or the YWCA services for survivors of victims abuse.

Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900.