Legislator Details
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
married Leo Clair Beebe, later divorced; children: 2, Anne and Peter Thompson
Number of Children: 2
Background
Education:
graduated from high school in Kalamazoo;
BS, Western State University, physical education;
MS, Wayne State University, clinical psychology;
PHD University of Michigan
Biographical Sketch:
Daughter of Henry Lawrence and Genevieve Boekeloo. First worked as a director of girls' and women's recreational activities in Dearborn, MI. Later taught psychiology at Henry Ford College. Former member of the board of Republican State Federation. Introduced legislation on sex education in schools in 1966. She also introduced the legislation which established the Michigan Women’s Commission and the Michigan Office of Youth Services. Appointed to the President's Committee on Mental Retardation by President Nixon, serving 4 9 years.. Taught psychology at Henry Ford Community College. Member: American Civil Liberties Union; board of Hemophilia Association; Women's Action Against Crime; American Red Cross; Women's City Club; West Dearborn Republican Club; Redford Township Republican Club; Dearborn Player's Guild; Menninger Foundation; Nomads, Inc.; Western State Alumni Association. Former chairman and member of 16th District Women's Republican Club.
Notable Facts:
Inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 1983.
First Republican female elected to the state senate , in 1966; third women in the Michigan senate overall. Only woman in the 1969 senate.
Subjected to threats and fire-bombing of her home because of her pro-abortion stance.
Died in Tendercare Nursing Home in Portage, Kalamazoo Co., MI, at 95.
Photo available at http://hall.michiganwomen.org