Beth Chalmers

Elizabeth (Beth) Ann Francis Schroeder was born in Wichita, KS on December 27th, 1961, to parents Carol and Eugene Schroeder. She was the youngest of four children, having three older siblings, Tim, Patrice, and Joelyn.

She was raised under the signature Pizza Hut Red Roof, starting from napping in booths as a child, to young teen waitress, to young adult serving tables in the Pear Tree Restaurant and Peppy Partridge Club, to keeping books in the Pizza Co. office on and off until the franchise sold many years later.

A lifelong lover of Rock n’ Roll music, nice cars, and a good smoke, she attended school at Hutchinson Community College to receive her Associate Arts Degree in Broadcasting. While going to college and working at KSKU radio in Hutchinson, she met her future husband and lifemate Bruce Chalmers. They married July 24th, 1982, and created a family with three children - Abbey Jo, Brandell Eugene, and Carolann Patricia. The whirlwind early years led Beth and Bruce to start their own radio station, KQNS 95.5 “The Rock'', which won an award for KAKE 10 Best Kansas Company 1996.  Through the buzz of her blossoming life, she was a loving wife, mother, leader, daughter, sister, and friend to all.  She kept an open door to all children her kids brought home, offering a meal and a warm place to rest if needed.

As her children grew, she became a grandmother to three - Sylas Dean, Isla Ellice, and Cohen Michael. She loved being the fun grandma that let them have a soda or happy meal and stay up late. She could be talked into a water slide or lacing up a pair of roller skates because she loved to fill hearts with happy memories, even if she needed a chiropractor after.  In her later years, she opened her heart even more and became a caretaker to aging and ailing loved ones on multiple occasions, even quitting work to move in with her mom and care for her after she could no longer live alone. 

Beth is preceded in death by both parents Eugene (1988) and Carol (2023), brother Tim (2004), and sister Patsy (2023). She is survived by sister Jo, ex-husband Bruce, children Abbey, Brandell, and Carolann, and grandchildren Sylas, Isla, and Cohen. 

A celebration of life will be held at the American Legion in McPherson on her birthday, December 27th, 2023, from 4-7 pm.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 N. Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.