Geraldine N. Beson

Geraldine N. Beson, 90, of Bay City, wife of the late Donald Edward Beson, Sr. passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on Friday, April 10, 2026, where she was lovingly cared for by the Bay County Medical Care Facility. Geraldine was born January 8, 1936, in Bay City, MI and has been a lifelong resident. She was a member of Visitation Catholic Church, now, Our Lady of Peace. Geraldine was the youngest of 12 children of Theodore Christopher Schumann and Rachel Elizabeth Rivet Schumann. She was the nineth daughter, hence her middle name, Nina.

Geraldine was a stay-at-home mom, very proud of her children, and loved them to the point of making each one feel as though they were all her favorite. She did a variety of jobs to help make ends meet, such as cleaning homes and offices, baking, picking pickles and berries. Later in life, she was employed at the Bay City Times, as a stuffer. She was known to show up one hour in advance to get the machine that she wanted. Hobbies included sewing, (Christmas pjs, Easter dresses) quilting, (made them for her loved ones and friends), and baking, (Christmas cookies, cinnamon rolls, fruit tarts), and canning.

Geraldine is survived by her six children; Ann Gisele McMath, Kimberly T. Teeple-Beson, Lynette S. Beson, Florence M. (Gary Parent), Donna J. LaRoche (David Woerpel), and Donald Edward Beson, Jr.; sixteen grandchildren; Colleen Pake (TJ), and Hugh (Courtney) McMath, Danielle (Phillip) Baldwin, Kristen McMath, Holly Roberts, David (Ashlie) Roberts, and Austin (Julie) Brown, Corey Parent, Todd (Jackie) Parent, Jaime Parent (fiancé, Randy Latulippe), Madison McMath, and Griffin McMath, Richie (Shelby) LaRoche and Jennae (Caleb) Ninemire, Amanda Vanderwest (Andrew), and Heather Warren; forty great grandchildren and one great-great grandson; her brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Therese Rivet, Kathleen Beson, Alice (Michael) McDonnell, special daughter-in-law, Andrea Beson; best care giver ever, Michelle (Larry) Campau; lifelong friend, Iris Bell, over 100 nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, parents, and her brothers and sisters, Genieve (Earl) Denomme, Catherine (Edward) Stokoe, LeRoy (Lucille) Schumann, James (Bud) (Ellen) Schumann, Louise (Eugene) DeMatio, Helen Roberts, Patricia (Max) Leitermann, Edward J. (Mike) (Yvonne) Schumann, Mary Ellen (Robert) Grout, Carol (Albert) Hubert, B. Sally (Theodore) Ciaciuch; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Joseph (Rosemary) Beson, Robert (Helen) Beson, Leonard (Anne) Beson, Yvonne (E.J.) Schumann, Clifford (Delores) Beson, Jeanne (Edward) Zondlak, Russel Rivet, and Leo Beson; sons-in-law, Peter McMath and Richard LaRoche; grandchildren, Thomas Joseph and Rachel Brown; great-grandchild, Hazel Pennington; aunt and stepmother; Lillian Rivet Schumann.

Funeral Liturgy will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026 at Our Lady of Peace Parish. Celebrant will be Rev. Fr. Dale Orlik with Rite of Committal following in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at the Gephart Funeral Home from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. The family will pray the Rosary on Sunday at the funeral home at 6:30 p.m. Geraldine will be taken to the church to lie in state on Monday, April 20, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorial contributions to Safe Harbor Kitchen as Geraldine had a heart for the poor.