Minnie Béguin

Born March 8, 1920 to Golda and Charles Romerill, she grew up on a family farm near the Ohio River in Switzerland County, Indiana, with seven siblings. She outlived them all. As a teenager she felt called to be a missionary. She didn’t know how she would do this, but believed God would open doors.

She went to college to train as a teacher and received her BA from the Baptist Missionary Training School in Chicago. Preparing to go to India as a single missionary with the American Baptist Association, she attended Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut. There she met Maurice Béguin, a French-Swiss, who had come to study for a Master of Divinity. She later enjoyed telling of the student roller skating outing where they fell for each other. They were married in May 1946 and had their first daughter, Beatrice, in 1948. After Maurice received his degree, they went to Switzerland and France in search of a position they could fill together. Their son, Victor, was born in Paris.

The Swiss Mission sent them to South Africa in 1950 to serve on Mission stations with the Tsonga Presbyterian Church in Limpopo Province and later in Johannesburg. They were the post-war generation replacing original Swiss founders and tasked with passing on churches, schools and hospitals to Tsonga leadership as apartheid laws became more constricting and dividing. They had two more children, Rebecca Jane and David both born at Elim Mission Hospital.

They returned to the United States as a family in 1967. Always planned, this was a hard transition as the children were deeply rooted in South African identity but which looked to only become more difficult. Maurice and Minnie worked with American Baptist Churches in Ohio and New York. Retiring to Waterford, New York, he became a chaplain and Minnie worked as a secretary at the local hospital. He died in 1987. Minnie moved with Beatrice to Saranac Lake in 1987 where she joined the Methodist Church, volunteered for Hospice, and was active in the community for seventeen vibrant years. Always wanting to see the world, besides visiting Switzerland many times with Maurice and after his death, she travelled to India, the Holy Land, Egypt, Australia and New Zealand. At 80, she made a return trip to South Africa to visit Black churches and reunite with former Tsonga colleagues.

An avid gardener, she nurtured flowers wherever she lived, especially so for her years at Lake Forest Senior Living in Plattsburgh, getting up early to water and tend the plants. An accomplished seamstress, she made clothes for the family when in South Africa and lovely event dresses for her daughters. In her 70s, she made heirloom quilts. And what a sharp Scrabble player! Minnie was resilient and ever-compassionate, an anchor for all who loved her. Her Christian convictions and faith remained strong to the end of her life.

Minnie is survived by her four children and their families: Beatrice (Daniel), Victor (Ellen), Rebecca and David (Cindy Lynn); five grandsons, Aron (Cindy), Alex (Christie), Nyiko (Tiffany), Samouel (Kristen) and Etienne (Shawn); three great granddaughters Madeline, Ana and Sierra; and beloved nieces and nephews. Her family rejoices in her long and faithful life.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation are invited to consider Hospice of the North Country in Plattsburgh or High Peaks Hospice in Saranac Lake. Arrangements are in care of Brown’s Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. There will be no calling hours. A memorial celebration will be scheduled soon.