Mary Lou Beals

SIOUX CITY -- Mary Lou Beals, 74, of Sioux City died Monday, Aug. 3, 2009, at Indian Hills Nursing and Rehab Center following a brief illness with her family by her side.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 7, 2009 at St. Michael Catholic Church, with the Rev. Gary Snyder officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 5 to 8 p.m. today, with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., all at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Mary Lou was born Sept. 7, 1934, in Sioux City, the daughter of Peter and Mary (Lindstrom) Hedemark. She graduated from Bishop Heelan High School in 1953.

She was married to Donald Beals on Sept. 11, 1954, in Sioux City. After their marriage, the couple moved to Indianapolis, Ind. for four years, then Ames, Iowa, for four years before returning to Sioux City in 1962.

She was a devoted wife and mother. She spent the majority of her life caring for her family. She also worked part-time and volunteered at Indian Hills Care Center. She was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church and Altar Society.

Survivors include her husband, Donald of Sioux City; seven children and spouses, Dr. John and Paula Beals of Indianapolis, Ronald and Christee Beals, Robert and Barbara Beals, Daniel and Trula Beals, Catherine and Joe Mousel, Linda Beals and Susan and Mark Green, all of Sioux City; two brothers and their wives, Peter and Blanche Hedemark and Thomas and Marilee Hedemark, all of Spokane, Wash.; a sister and her husband, Judy and Phil Barker of Yelm, Wash.; a sister-in-law, Darlene Bailey of Littleton, Colo.; 16 grandchildren, Meredith, Ian, Abigail, Cayley, Michael, Brian, Anna, Zachary, Hannah and Lily Beals, Tommy and Danny Mousel, Jakob and Lydia Green and Reyna and Lauren Mikulicz; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Mary Hedemark; a sister, Carolyn Hoffman; a brother, George Hedemark; two infant brothers, Tim and Bill; and a brother-in-law, Roy Bailey.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Michael, Brian, Ian, Zachary Beals, Jakob Green, Tommy and Danny Mousel.

Memorials may be made in her name to St. Michael Catholic Church or Hospice of Siouxland.