Ronald A. Bethem; 81; of Belle Vernon (Washington Township); died Tuesday; Aug. 4; 2009; at 2:13 a.m. at Monongahela Valley Hospital. Born Jan. 12; 1928; in Charleroi; he was the son of the late Jules and Catherine Tatar Bethem. A resident of Washington Township for the past 46 years; Mr. Bethem was a member of St. Sebastian R.C. Church; Belle Vernon; and a veteran of the Korean War where he served in the U.S. Army. He was a caring and loving father; grandfather and great-grandfather; but mostly a loyal husband who spoke so much about his family and how much they meant to him. Often he would say you can’t beat family and we have the best. Generosity was a big part of his character. Doing things for everyone and expecting nothing in return. All who loved and cared for him made him proud. All who knew and loved him carry the confidence now that we can do anything. He would often say I knew you could do it. And that is testament to his character. He was employed at Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Monessen and Allenport plants as a machinist and with his brother; Darwin; operated the Bethem machine shop in Belle Vernon for 30 years; was a member and past president of the Belle Vernon American Legion Post 659; and Belle Vernon Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 209. He is survived by his wife; Mildred Maisano Bethem; to whom he was married 58 years; son and daughter-in-law Ronald J. and Dayna Bethem; of North Belle Vernon; daughter and son-in-law Peggy and Patrick Herforth; of Monongahela; two brothers and sisters-in-law Darwin and Lois Bethem; of Charleroi; Gordon and Connie Bethem; of Belle Vernon; sister and brother-in-law Norma and Dave Herst; of Gainesville; Ga.; six grandchildren; Jill Urban; Ivy Tauber; Alder Herforth; Jacob; Kerrie and Lee Bethem; four great- grandchildren; Timothy and Catherine Urban and Kael and Willow Herforth. He is preceded in death by two brothers; Leonard and Curtis Bethem; and a sister Elaine Binkney. Visitation will be held Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the LEONARD J. PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME; Family Owned and Operated; 626 Broad Avenue; Belle Vernon 724-929-6183. Prayer Service will be held Friday at 9:15 a.m. in the funeral home followed by Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Sebastian R.C. Church with the Rev. Lawrence L. Manchas Pastor as celebrant. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Members of St. Sebastian parish will pray the rosary for the departed soul of Ronald Bethem Thursday at 3 p.m. and the Belle Vernon American Legion will conduct services Thursday evening at 7 p.m.; both in the funeral home. Condolences accepted for the family at the funeral home’s web site; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.

Mary Weimer;born May 14;1922;in Monessen;Pennsylvania;passed away peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 2;2009. Mary is preceded in death by her husband of 35 years;Marl (Dutch) Weimer;Jr.;along with 5 brothers and 1 sister. She is survived by her son;Marl (Dutch)Weimer;III and wife Phyllis of Spring;her daughter;Melanie Taylor and husband Dennis of Willis;3 grandchildren;Eric Taylor;Stephen Taylor and Travis Weimer. She has 1 great-grandchild;Gabriel Weimer. Mary was employed for over 25 years by Weimer Distributing Company and was well known in the grocery supply business throughtout the greater Houston and Galveston areas. She was an avid golfer and member of Champions Golf Course. Mary loved to dance to big band music and spent many as hour on the dance floor at the Sons of Herman VFW dancing to the music of Glen Miller;Tommy Dorsey and other Big Band orchestras. She loved to go cruising and went on several cruises to the Bahamas;Bermuda and Puerto Rico. And;if you were around her for only a short period of time;you would be sure to hear a joke or two! Mary attended St.Christopher’s Episcopal Church while she lived in Houston and when she moved to Spring;attended Champion Life Center. Interment to be held at Belle Vernon Cemetery;Belle Vernon;Pennsylvania.

Estella Newbill Reed; 91; was called home to be with the Lord and her beloved husband; Alvin; and son; Damon Reed. She was born Sept. 8; 1917; in Wyoming; W.Va. She was a former resident of Monessen and member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church; Monessen. She lived in Rochester; N.Y.; for a number of years and moved to Las Vegas; Nev.; with her two daughters. She leaves to cherish her memory two sons; Phillip Reed (Phyliss Harvey); of Monessen; and Anthony Tony and wife; Ora Reed; of Rochester; N.Y.; two daughters; Nikki Currenton (with whom she made her home) and Jacqueline James; both of Las Vegas; Nev.; 16 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; a host of nieces; including two from the Mon Valley area; Bonnie Mays and Bettie Johnson; nephews; and friends. Preceding her in death in addition to her husband and son; are three brothers and five sisters. An interment will be held Thursday; Aug. 6; at 12 noon in the Chapel at Belle Vernon Cemetery; Belle Vernon. A memorial service will be held in Rochester; N.Y.; Saturday; Aug. 8.