Olga Maria Beattie | 99 | Easton, Kansas

Olga Maria Beattie, 99, of Easton, Kansas, formerly of Summer Hill, IL, died peacefully in her sleep on Jan. 13, 2025.She was born Feb. 26, 1925 in Cartago, Costa Rica, to Fabio and Isabel Ramirez. In 1943, she met Earl J. Beattie who was serving with the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Panama Canal Zone. After several months they were engaged and later married on March 27, 1944 in Cartago, Costa Rica, but remained separated until the end of WW II. They eventually settled on a small farm southeast of Summer Hill, where they remained until Earl’s death on October 1996.
Olga arrived in the United States in 1945 speaking basic English and having earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from San Luis Gonzaga College, Cartago, Costa Rica. However, that did not prepare her for the early years on the farm where they had no electricity, indoor plumbing, or running water. Despite the hardships, she accepted the challenge and made a home for her family. During those first years Olga learned to garden and can vegetables, raised chickens to help feed her family, and helped Earl around the farm when needed. Money was always short so Olga worked at various jobs in the community, cleaning homes, waitressing, picking fruit at Starks Nursery and later Ackles in New Hartford, and for many years working the concession stand at the Clark Drive-Inn theater in Summer Hill. In the 50’s, Olga and Earl became members of Country Couples, meeting every Saturday night to square dance on the second floor of the old Farm Bureau in Pittsfield, Illinois. It was there that Olga met the Pike County Superintendent of Schools, who assisted her in beginning a 25+ year career teaching Spanish and later English at Pleasant Hill High School. However, Olga wanted more from her career and dedicated years driving back and forth three nights a week to attend classes at Quincy College until obtaining her master’s degree in English. Olga was an ardent supporter and member of the Pike County local “People to People Exchange” organization, which is responsible for placing international students in U.S. high schools and universities to strengthen their leadership and career skills. Olga personally sponsored many students over the years, including young men and women from South Korea, Denmark, Columbia, and Costa Rica. She was deeply involved in student activities, serving as a faculty sponsor for multiple classes over many years. She was loved by students and faculty members alike, and was known for her beautiful smile, her love for adventure, and her obvious affection for her students.
Olga is survived by one daughter, Sonja of Orting, WA, one son, Mark (Ann) Beattie of Macon, IL, two sisters, Elsa Deerman of San Diego, CA and Sonja Gozrulak of Santa Cruz, CA, five granddaughters, Sarah O’Conner of Orting, WA, Stephanie Pugmire of Port Angeles, WA, and Synthia Pugmire of Denver, CO and Cassandra Beattie of Kansas City, MO, one grandson, Steven Beattie of Basehor, KS. There are eleven great grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a sister, Aida Arellanes, and one great grandchild.
Cremation was provided by Porter Funeral Home in Lenexa, KS. A celebration of life will be held at a later date at the Lummis Funeral Home in Pleasant Hill, IL. Memorials may be made to Tunnel to Towers, the Wounded Warriors Foundation, or to Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Lummis Funeral Home in Pleasant Hill, IL is handling the arrangements.