Beth Herbert Luhman died January 22, 2007, at age 92. She was an extraordinary person with enormous interests—art, music, community, antiques, history (especially local history), travel, gardening, cooking, her church, and, above all, her family. She was a fine artist with a lifetime of drawing and painting—from the striking African drawings in her high school "Belvi" to the collection of barns from across the country marking the American Bicentennial. Her lifetime works were exhibited in Belvidere Park at the Old Mill in September 2004 in honor of her 90th birthday. Beth has an artist file at the Smithsonian American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery Library in Washington D.C. She was the author of several books, including "The Art & Times of Professor Wm. Stanley and the Families Whose Lives he Touched," and children stories entitled, "The Little Edward Stories," depicting a little boy's adventures in the 1950's. Beth graduated from Belvidere High School, where she was awarded the "Mantle" for being the outstanding junior student in 1932, the same year she won the competition to become Miss Boone County. She also attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago and the University of Kentucky. Beth served on many boards and committees for the betterment of the arts, the church, and the community. As a result, she was honored with her husband as Honorary Marshall in the 1993 Belvidere Heritage Days/Fourth of July Parade. After his death, she was again honored as Honorary Marshall of the parade. In 1998, she also received the Chamber of Commerce "Distinguished Citizen of the Year" award. Beth was a member of the Asa Cottrell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Beth died in the farmhouse in which she was born, November 23, 1914, and raised. The daughter of Ethel Vandewalker Herbert and John H. Herbert was raised as an only child (her brother Walter Robert died at age 6 months) in the era of the horse and buggy. Many great stories of the one room schoolhouse she attended in her childhood were shared by friends whenever she would run into them at gatherings. Beth especially treasured her family. Beth married Harold Luhman on September 3, 1933, and they lived to celebrate their 60th anniversary. They had four children—Gerard, (Nicola) newly moved to Maroochydore, Australia after 42 years in New Zealand, Herbert, (Sherry) of Edwards, Colorado, Letricia (Letty) Gustafson of Belvidere and Melinda (James) Saracini of Dallas, Texas. The family lived in Indiana from 1937 until they moved to Corpus Christi, Texas in 1946. They returned to the ancestral Illinois farm in 1962 having renovated it extensively. They remained together there until Harold's death February 28, 1994. Beth had 6 granddaughters; Rhonda Dellepiane of Denver, Colorado, Rebecca (Ryan) Morey of Belvidere, Cindy (Paul) Cardone of The Woodlands, Texas, Kelly (Benito) Orsini of McKinney, Texas, Jennifer (Scott) Maslin of Germantown, Maryland, Kate Luhman (Reg) Laan of Brisbane, Australia. She also had 3 grandsons; Derek Todd Mullins of Chicago, Illinois, Nicholas Luhman of Sydney, Australia, and Jon Luhman of Gaithersburg, Maryland. Additionally, there are 11 great granddaughters, Sienna and Aria Dellepiane, Kelsey and Mackenzie Kluever and their sister, Savannah Morey, Grace and Sophia Laan, Alyssa, Anna and Ava Cardone, Emilia Orsini and two great grandsons, Luccio Dellepiane and Luca Orsini. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Thelma Luhman of Belvidere and Estella Latherow of Golden, Colorado; and nephew, William Luhman, who so thoughtfully had a luncheon date with his aunt for years almost every Thursday; Bill Carson and family, nieces Patricia (Steve)Eicksteadt, Trudy (Jim) Stockham, special nieces, Kathi Luhman (Todd) Bowman and Sally (Herbert) Rode, who shared time with her in the last of her days. Treasured friends Rosie Nyberg, Mildred and Bernard Allen, and Brenda Redner, gentle caretaker in her final days. The family deeply respects and appreciates the good works of Northern Illinois Hospice and Grief Center.As in living, she also gives in death her eyes for research that others may see to Illinois Eye Bank.

In lieu of flowers, Beth requested memorials to go to the Boone County Arts Council, designated to "Crossing the Stream" Project.