Richard L. Beers
Richard L. Beers, age 89, of Lansing, MI, passed away on January 17, 2017, at Sparrow Hospital. Born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 28, 1927, Richard was a loving husband, father and grandfather, a dedicated public servant, travel devotee and always enjoyed a good glass of wine.
Richard was a graduate from the University of Michigan, where he met his future wife, Rusti, and earned his bachelor’s degree. He then received a master’s degree from Michigan State University. Following his time at MSU, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve.
After college and military service, Dick began a long career with the State of Michigan. He worked in the Departments of Corrections, Management and Budget, Higher Education, and concluded his career as the director of Retirement Services. In all, Dick Beers served residents of the State of Michigan for 41 years.
Dick was active in the community, serving as a member of the Lansing Board of Education during the 1970’s, volunteered in schools, delivered for Meals-on-Wheels, was a member of the University of Michigan Alumni Association, and as a devoted golfer, played in the Cass Building Golf League for more than 50 years.
His professional career included involvement with the American Society of Public Administration, the National Association of State Budget Directors, where he served a term as President, and the National Association of State Retirement Administrators.
He was also a member of the “Oaks” group, a cadre of former state employees who continue to meet for a monthly luncheon. Dick looked forward to these meetings for more than 40 years.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Rusti; parents, Claude and Lacy; and four brothers, Roger, Bill, Ed and John.
Survivors include daughter, Jan Pfeiffer (Paul) of Holt; son, Jim (Valerie) of Fort Collins, Colorado; sister, Barbara (Michael) of Cincinnati, Ohio; and three grandchildren, Adrianne Beers of Fort Collins, Colorado, Erica Pfeiffer (Scott Streeter) of San Francisco, California, and Derek Beers (Chelsea Mitts) of Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
He leaves behind many great friends throughout the Lansing area, including a close group who enjoyed dinners together at “the table” at Independence Village in Grand Ledge, where he spent his final few years.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, January 23 at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, 325 W. Washtenaw St., Lansing. Visitation for family and friends will be 1-4 p.m. Sunday, January 22 at Estes-Leadley. A luncheon will be served at 12:30 p.m. at Crown Plaza Lansing West, 925 S. Creyts Road, Lansing.
Contributions to support the causes Dick believed in can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Michigan Great Lakes Chapter or online at http://www.alz.org/mglc/, or the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan or online at http://fordschool.umich.edu/giving/where-give. Online condolences may be made at Estes-Leadley – http://estesleadley.com/.
7 Messages to “Richard L. Beers”
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Brad Dunlap
January 19, 2017 at 11:39 amDeepest condolences for you and your family Jim! God is our Refuge and Strength.
The Dunlap’s
Linda Wittmann
January 21, 2017 at 6:37 amCondolences to the family and friends of Mr. Beers. My parents, Leo and Harriet Wozniak, were part of “the table” at Independence Village for years before they passed away in 2015. They loved both Mr. and Mrs Beers. Richard was a very kind and caring man. I know he will be missed! I like to think that now there is a new table in a holy place full of love where they can gather and share their stories without struggle and with fond memories of their time on earth. And where they will think all the food is DELICIOUS!
Stephen Cessna
January 22, 2017 at 12:44 pmI had the privilege of knowing Dick and working with him as Trustee for the Woldumar Endowment and as a Board Member for Morgan Creek Condominium. Dick was intelligent as well as caring and freely contributed to his community. My condolences to his family on his passing.
Anonymous
January 22, 2017 at 8:22 pmI have known Mr. Beers for years in the Cass Golf League and he sure made GOLF a better game with his humor. He will be sorely missed. A tremendous individual and very likeable..
Cass Golf League
January 24, 2017 at 12:23 amAll of us admired Dick a lot – he was a man of integrity and character. Our condolences to family and friends.
John Greenslit
January 24, 2017 at 10:27 amBeers Family,
Thank you for sharing so many great years with Dick. As a close friend and colleague of deceased brother Jim, we had many common social events with your family, including the Clark Lake outings.
Recently, we reacquainted through the Cass Golf League as I was invited to play as a sub, and later member. His personality of kindness and respect always overrode any pressure to compete, as the 19th hole conversations and beverages were always more important than our scores. He was a friend.
Anonymous
January 25, 2017 at 8:57 amI met Richard in the 1960s at a meeting of the American Society for Public Administration where he was a leader. He was a dedicated and competent public servant. Later I worked with him while he was a leader at the Michigan Department of Management and Budget. All respected him for his competency and integrity. He was in a class by himself.