Beatriz Stidham

Dorila Beatriz “Nata” (Politeo-Smith) Stidham, 88, of Seymour Indiana, passed away on Monday, January 15, 2024 at the Lutheran Community Home in Seymour Indiana. She was a twin born April 20, 1935 with her sister Blanca “Yiyina” in Guarambare, Paraguay, to the late Julio Politeo-Smith and Dorila Benitez Politeo-Smith. Her family moved to Asuncion so that she and her siblings could attend better schools in the city, while their father commuted from Guarambare as the local doctor and accountant. She attended the National University of Asuncion and graduated in 1959 with a B.S. degree in Chemistry and Pharmacology and then worked alongside her father as a pharmacist. In 1961 she met an American Engineer working in the Chaco building roads and fell in love. They married and soon moved to the USA where she spoke no English and knew no one. For the next 62 years she was married to her beloved husband William Mowry Stidham, Jr., until his passing on April 25, 2023. During those years they travelled across the country following Bill’s employment opportunities and Beatriz raised their family. She learned to garden, raise farm animals, ski, backpack, make wine and beer, and she became a beekeeper.She was an avid reader of all kinds of books, her favorite being the Bible. She was a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and a loving homemaker. Beatriz was a beautiful, vivacious, patient, woman who made the best of any situation. In the mid 1970’s she studied and became an American citizen although she held strong to her Paraguayan heritage. She loved to laugh, she loved music, she loved languages and often read the dictionary for translations, as she was fluent in 3 languages with a working knowledge of several more. She was a translator for the court system and she was a tutor for foreign exchange students. She loved bible studies and was actively involved in the many communities where she lived.

Her survivors include 3 children and their spouses: Lisa Morgan-Miller (Jeremy Miller) of Boise, Idaho, Jo Boehlke (Jeff) of Seymour, Indiana, Andy Stidham (Mary Jo Rawlsky) of Spirit Lake, Idaho; sister Gloria Cuevas (Rogelio) of Asuncion, Paraguay; numerous nieces and nephews, eight grandchildren, Stephen Boehlke & Hannah, Jordan Morgan, Jasmine Stidham, Jonathan Boehlke & Ellie, James Morgan, Thomas Boehlke, Joseph Boehlke, and Victoria Boehlke; six great grandchildren Elliana, Everest, Everly, Garrison, Titus, Genevieve Boehlke and one on the way. She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband; brothers Teito Politeo-Smith and Aristides Politeo-Smith; twin sister Blanca Garcia and nephews Julio and Aris Cuevas.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, 11am, January 27, 2024 at Grace Baptist Church, 2560 W. County Road 300 N., North Vernon IN 47265.

Friends are invited to leave condolence messages for the family at www.christensenfamilyfuneral.com

Daniel & Betsy Christensen have been entrusted with the arrangements.