Beth Geist Hazlett, a long time teacher in the community, passed away on December 3, 2014, at the Ottawa County Health Center. She was born October 30, 1916, in her home near Ada, Kansas, to Ellis Martin and Elfie Iris (Baldwin) Hallock.

Raised on the family farm, she attended District 27 one room school called the Baldwin School. In high school, Beth was active in volleyball, basketball, music, band, orchestra, holding state honors with her cello. She graduated from Minneapolis High School as valedictorian in 1934 . In the fall she attended Kansas State Teacher's College in Emporia for one year obtaining a three year teaching certificate.

A dedicated teacher, she began her career in one room schools in Ottawa County at Sunnyside, District 45, then Wells, Union II School, and then Storm Center, District 40.

Beth met Ernest James Geist her first year of teaching. On August 12, 1938, they married in the Ada Methodist Church and farmed the Geist farm which is between Wells and Miltonvale. After continuing her education, she began teaching again in 1958 when the family moved to Minneapolis, KS. She taught 3rd grade in Minneapolis from 1958 until retiring in 1980. She received her B.S. degree in education in 1965 and her masters in 1971. She loved teaching and she loved music; both enriched her life.

Church was also an important part of her life starting as a young child at the Ada Methodist Church and then the Minneapolis United Methodist Church. She cared deeply for her church family and loved Bible Class, singing in the choir and attending Sunday School. She was president of United Methodist Women for 9 years. She was also involved in EHU, Home Arts, DAR, Chamberettes, M&M Club, and served as a 4-H leader and President of Delta Kappa Gamma for 3 years.

Ernest passed away in 1978. After his death, she married Kale Dallen and then Clarence Hazlett; both predeceased her. She was also preceded in death by her brother Rex Hallock, and sister Iris Washburn Eales.

She leaves her children and grandchildren to carry on life's task: to serve God and others. Her children include: son Douglas and wife Diane of Mesa, Arizona, daughter Vicki Patton and husband Larry of ElDorado, Kansas, and daughter Elaine Beck and husband Glenn of Wichita Falls, Texas. The grandchildren are Michele Hogue and husband Jason, Suzanne Dunshie and husband Matt, Matthew Patton, Ann Yarbrough and husband Liam, and Chad Patton and wife Allison. She leaves eleven great grandchildren: Ryan and Nathan Hogue, Isabelle, Emalie, Tate and Connor Dunshie, Kiera Yarbrough, April, Ivy, Selah, and Ben Patton.

Visitation is 2-8 p.m. Friday, December 12, with the family receiving friends from 6-8 at the Wilson Family Funeral Home in Minneapolis. Memorial services will be at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, December 13 at the First United Methodist Church, Minneapolis. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers, memorials include the Minneapolis United Methodist Church, and Ottawa County Health Center. Online condolences can be sent to www.wilsonfamilyfuneralhome.com