Helen M. "Rusti" Beers

Age 87, Lansing, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2012 at Sparrow Hospital. Born in Detroit, MI on October 18, 1924, Rusti was a loving wife, mother and a dedicated fan of the University of Michigan. She graduated from Detroit Northwestern High School. She served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, then attended and graduated from U of M. While at U of M, she met her future husband, Dick, while in Spanish class. They married and moved to Lansing, where she briefly worked as a secretary at Fisher Body and he began a long career in state government.

She was involved in many community activities including: U of M Alumni Association, Sparrow Hospital volunteers, League of Women Voters, and local ballet association. She enjoyed traveling – both domestically and internationally, and wintering at a home in Arizona. She had a flair for art and decorating, and loved University of Michigan sporting events. Her favorite phrase was “Go Blue!”

 Survivors include her husband, Dick; daughter, Jan Pfeiffer (Paul) of Holt; son, Jim (Valerie) of Fort Collins, Colorado; brother, Bill (Jill) of Traverse City; and three grandchildren, Adrianne Beers of Fort Collins, Colorado, Erica Pfeiffer of San Francisco, California and Derek Beers of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She leaves behind many other friends in the community.

The funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 26, 2012, at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, 325 W. Washtenaw St., Lansing, MI. Interment will follow at Deepdale Memorial Gardens. Visitation for family and friends will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday and 1-2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Michigan Great Lakes Chapter. Online condolences may be made at www.estesleadley.com.

Print Obituary

6 Messages to “Helen M. "Rusti" Beers

Print Messages
Dick & Carol Jaconette
January 23, 2012 at 5:39 pm

Dick,
We are sorry to hear of your loss. We want to express our sincere condolences to you and your family. We recall the many happy times that we enjoyed together with you and Rusti during our time together in Arizona. We remember her strong support of the maize and blue. Rusti and you always provided a sincere sense of friendship on our get togethers. We are grateful to have shared that friendship.

Reply
The Hotchkiss Family
January 23, 2012 at 6:36 pm

Jan, Paul and Erica- Thinking of you and hoping that all of the great memories of your mom/grandma will bring you some comfort this week and in the months ahead.
Love, Mary Chris, Bob and Griffin

Reply
Jessica Lewis
January 24, 2012 at 3:18 pm

Family of Rusti Beers,
My sincere condolences to you all at this time of loss. I do not know where to begin on how much of an amazing women Rusti was. I still remember the first day I met her! She loved to tell me all about her life journey and I loved hearing every minute of it. She would always tell me about all the trips her and Dick used to take and about the blue plates that were hung around the top of her kitchen. She was also very interested in myself, and how I grew up. We would spend the summer afternoons together sharing stories about ourselves, while Dick went to play golf 🙂 When Dick got home from golf he would always say “Hi Babe!”, give her a big smooch and tell her all about his day at golf and boy she loved to hear about how he played! It was just amazing to see the love they had for eachother. The Beers family will always hold a special place in my heart and I am so fortunate to have been able to meet people like them! Rusti was an amazing women and she will be greatly missed.
For anyone who knows Rusti…”Go Blue! Go Green!”

Reply
Ann-Marie Anderson
January 24, 2012 at 8:14 pm

Dick, Jan and the entire Beers Family,
Jan, so great to talk to you. Like everyone who knew her, I loved and adored Rusti. We’ve posted a tribute to her on the UM webstie (www.letsgoblue.org) that can only begin to capture all that she was. Her UM education, career in Washington D.C. and support of women’s athletics and achievements put her so far ahead of her time. She and Dick are the two best and most informed conversatonalists I’ve known and I never tired of their company in Michigan and Arizona or her hearty welcome of “Go Blue!” whenever she greeted a fellow Wolverine. Everyone loved their stories — about meeting in Spanish class at Michigan, how Dick’s frat brothers thought Rusti was his sister because they looked so much alike and what a wonderful daughter and best friend Jan was for Rusti. Dick, I love you and miss you both very much.

Reply
Susan Davis & Jim Minder
January 25, 2012 at 1:30 pm

We greatly enjoyed our friendship with Rusti & Dick in Michigan and Arizona. We will always think of Rusti whenever anyone says Go Blue! We are sorry we cannot be there with you now. We are in Grand Cayman, and thinking of you.

Reply
Judy Dunn Green
January 25, 2012 at 1:38 pm

Jan, Jimmy, and “Mr. Beers,” know that my prayers are with you as you go through this difficult time. I considered “Mrs. Beers” my second mom growing up, and confided in her often during my teens and twenties. I finally was able to call her “Rusti” by my 30’s, I think! I remember her coming to our Cumberland Road School classrooms as a “room mother” many times. She was always dressed beautifully and such a class and charisma about her. I will remember her and appreciate her always. Stay strong and be grateful that her passing was so peaceful, as was my mom’s almost 3 years ago. She can now keep an eye on the whole extended Beers clan from a better place! My love……

Reply

Please Sign The Guestbook

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *