Beth Arlene Holland

Beth Arlene Holland, age 101, previously of Thomson, Illinois passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at Aspire of Pleasant Valley Nursing Home, Pleasant Valley, Iowa. A memorial service will be held 11am Saturday, January 11, 2025 at the Law Jones Funeral Home, Thomson. Inurnment will be in Lower York Cemetery, Thomson. Visitation will be 10-11am, one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to St. Croix Hospice of Davenport or the Order of the Eastern Star Merton Chapter in Fulton.

Beth was born March 16, 1923, in Chadwick, Illinois, the daughter of Floyd and Mary (Jones) Miller. She graduated from Milledgeville High School with the Class of 1941. On July 29, 1941, Beth married Gilbert Holland. They raised a family and celebrated 64 years of marriage until Gilbert’s passing in 2007.

Early in their marriage, Beth was a farm wife. She began working in the school cafeteria and finished a 53 year career as a cook at the Thomson School cafeteria, retiring in 2011. She was a longtime member of York Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school and was always active. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, where she served as Worthy Matron. Beth was a volunteer for the Savanna Thrift Shop. She was well-known for her pie making, which was something she loved to do, especially Graham Cracker Pie, Apple and Coconut Cream.

Beth will be dearly missed by her son, Walter (Diana) Holland of Davenport, Iowa; daughter, Marcia McWilliams of Wauconda, Illinois; two grandchildren, Josh (Dawn) Holland and Adam (Stephanie) Holland; and two great grandchildren, Abigail and Blake. Beth is preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert; parents, Floyd and Mary; step-father, Frank Miller, son-in-law, Kevin McWilliams; one brother, Glen Miller, three sisters, Evelyn Howe, Lillian Thorngren, and her twin Betty Munz; and several nieces and nephews.