Dodie was born on March 20, 1929, in Saginaw, Michigan, the daughter of Henry and Anna (Looby) Demmer.

She spent her summers at the family cottage on the North Shore of Houghton Lake, Michigan. After graduating from Arthur Hill High School, she attended Michigan State and was a lifelong Spartan. She worked summers at Met Life Insurance Company where she met and married William Thomas Beetham, who preceded her in death in 2000. Dodie enjoyed her career at Peoples National Bank in Bay City, Michigan working as a Trust Officer until her retirement. She subsequently moved to Suttons Bay, Michigan to be near family and has resided here for the last 25 years.

She loved traveling and had many crosscountry road trips and adventures with her daughters and siblings. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed golfing, riding her bike, cross-country skiing and swimming. Most of all she enjoyed being with her family, especially the family’s annual Christmas tree cutting weekend in Leelanau County.

Dodie is survived by her daughters, Mary Agnes Kern (Thomas “Rex”), Marnie A. Besonen (Rod), and Molly E. Julian (Greg); her grandchildren, William “Bill” Kern ( Jaimie), Katie Kern (David Olchowski), John P. Besonen (Lindsey), and Lily Mae Julian; and her great-grandchildren, Patrick and Mariah Kern, Connor Olchowski, and a great-grandchild on the way, as well as several beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bill, her siblings, Mary Heppler (Matt), John E. Demmer (Marnie), Betty Raths (Bob), and Harry “Butch” Demmer (Kathleen); and an infant son.

Private family graveside services at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Bay City and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Leelanau County Senior Services, 8527 E. Government Center Dr., Suite 106, Suttons Bay, MI 49682; the Great Lakes Humane Society, 7246 E. Harry’s Rd., Traverse City, MI 49684; and/or VFW Little Finger Post 7731, P.O. Box 262, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653, or as Mom loved poetry, simply take a walk in the woods or by the lake and remember her favorite verse: “Breathes there the man with soul so dead who never to himself hath said, this is my own, my native land.” Sir Walter Scott.

Please share condolences and memories with Dodie’s family at www.martinson.info. Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.