Alice Kathryn Coulter Bein Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Alice Kathryn Coulter Bein was born on Halloween, 1922, in Corning, IA to Naomi Ruth Harvey Coulter and Harry Raymond Coulter. She died on Valentine’s Day, 2020, at the age of 97. Her death brought an end to a life that touched many others. She was still receiving notes and letters from friends and former students at the time of her death. Alice grew up in a musical home and played clarinet, cello and piano. At 17, Alice took a train by herself from that small town in western Iowa to Oberlin, OH, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in music education. Alice taught music in Early and Fort Dodge, IA. In the fall of 1948, she, a last-minute substitute for a woman who had taken ill, went on a blind date with Donald Henry Bein. In the summer of 1949, Alice and Don were married. This past summer they celebrated seventy years of marriage with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Alice’s pride in her family was unmatched. In addition to raising her family and being the supportive wife of a business executive (navigating moves to Kansas City, KS, Old Tappan, NJ, Hawley, PA, Lake of the Ozarks, MO, and finally Rockford, IL), Alice taught private cello and piano lessons, served in choirs and as accompanist in the churches where she and Don worshipped, and was a faithful member of P.E.O. The same week she was admitted to fulltime care she had played for chapel services at Peterson Meadows. Alice’s children were raised in a Rodgers and Hammerstein home where they were taught the lessons of “Climb Every Mountain ‘til You Find Your Dream” and “When You Walk Through a Storm Hold Your Head Up High”. Her family includes husband Donald Bein; children Miriam (Jim) Mercer, Martha Bein (Steven Larsen) and Paul (La Von)Bein; grandchildren Andrew (Jaimie) Mercer, Sarah Bein (Kyle) Dreher, Laura Mercer, Vanessa Larsen (Chuck) Strada, Rachel (Peter) Bostrom, Krista Larsen, Lindsay Bein, Jackson Regnier and Cameron Larsen; great-grandchildren Albany, Will and Suzie Mercer, Lucy and Hank Dreher, James, Drew, Eric and Neil Filoso, C.J., Chloë and Asher Strada and Baby Girl Bostrom (due to arrive in May); sisters Ruth Ann Coulter Ferris and Lois Bein Freeman; niece and nephews and their children. All will be forever grateful for her presence in their lives. Alice’s family sincerely thanks the staff of Kirk’s Place at Wesley Willows and Heartland Hospice for the care they provided Alice. Alice’s life will be celebrated in a Memorial Service at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 3300 Rural Street, on Friday February 21 at 11:00. Visitation will precede the service from 9:00 to 10:45. At Alice’s request, her body will be donated to the University of Wisconsin for the advancement of science. In lieu of flowers, please honor Alice through donations to the Nielsen Chorale.

Alice Kathryn Coulter Bein

October 31, 1922 - February 14, 2020