Susan Beda Clink's Obituary
Susan Beda Clink (nee Parker) passed away peacefully on December 16, 2017 after 97 years of a life well-lived. She will be missed by her family and many friends.
Susan was born June 5, 1920, to Susan E. and Leonidas M. Parker in Calhoun Falls, a small town (pop. 900) in rural South Carolina. Susan was the youngest and last survivor of eleven children. She grew up on the family farm on the town’s outskirts where her father was the railroad station master and a local civic leader. In 1937 at age 17 and just out of high school Susan arrived in Muskegon to stay with two older sisters while seeking employment. Her future husband, the late Anthony (“Tony”) Beda, met Susan at the railway station at the request of Susan’s older sister, Dixie. A Canadian by birth, Tony came to Chicago to play hockey in the Catholic leagues. The opportunity to move up to the professional ranks then brought Tony to Muskegon where he was a star defenseman for the Muskegon “Sailors” in the Michigan-Ontario league. Susan and Tony married in 1939 and raised two children, Bruce Beda of Chicago and Dr. Susan Butts of Midland, MI. After Tony’s death in 1971, Susan married Stephen H. Clink, a prominent local attorney who helped found the Muskegon Community Foundation. Steve encouraged Susan to become more involved in community affairs and to take up skiing and golfing at age 52. Steve predeceased Susan in 1992.
Susan was a “grande dame” in the best sense of that word. She was striking in appearance and bearing but easily approachable. She made many lasting friends. She possessed a curious mind, enjoyed discussing current events and travelling. She was a good conversationalist with the ability to listen to others. A natural teacher, she deplored misuse of the English language. Although she spent the last 80 years of her life in Muskegon, Susan never lost the speech cadence of her native South Carolina. She often entertained her family with tales of growing up in a small southern town during the depression, the local railroad and the experiences of two older brothers who spent their careers in the Foreign Service and were stationed in Germany in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II. Susan’s greatest pride was her two children and their families along with the accomplishments of Steve’s children and their families.
Susan was active in community organizations. Her community activities included the Presidency of the county-wide united P.T.A. organization, Trustee of the Muskegon United Way, Trustee of the Muskegon county library system, PACE Committee of Muskegon Community College and appointments to the Norton Shores Master Plan Review Panel and the Norton Shores Building Authority. Within the arts Susan was active with the West Shore Symphony Orchestra Designer Show house, the Affair of the Arts and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Muskegon Museum of Art Foundation. She received the prestigious Patron of the Arts Award from the Michigan Foundation of the Arts for her work with three other local leaders in raising more than $3 million for the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts and an endowment fund for the Muskegon Museum of Art. She was a parishioner of St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart parishes and a member of the First Congregational Church of Muskegon.
Susan is survived by her son, Bruce (Mary) Beda; daughter, Susan (Bertie) Butts and their five children and two grandchildren; three step-children, Nancy (Peter) Sheldon, Betsy (Walter) Naumer, and Tom (Dee) Clink; the wife of a deceased step-son, Karen (Stephen) Clink and their nine children and nine grandchildren. The family plans to hold a memorial service for Susan in June 2018 when the peonies are in bloom. Persons wishing to remember Susan are asked to send a donation to Harbor Hospice of Muskegon, the Community Foundation for Muskegon County or the Muskegon Museum of Art.
What’s your fondest memory of Susan?
What’s a lesson you learned from Susan?
Share a story where Susan's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Susan you’ll never forget.
How did Susan make you smile?