Treva Jean Guthrie Van Becelaere, age 81, of Pittsburg, passed away July 31, 2022, in her home from natural causes.
Treva was born on June 7, 1941 in Butler, Missouri, to Mary and George Guthrie of Amoret, Missouri. Her mother passed away just two years later, so Treva was sent to live with another family while her father worked as a foreman for the railroad. This was intended to be a short-term arrangement, but the Wests raised Treva to the age of 13. At that time, her father remarried and moved Treva to live with him and his new wife in Pittsburg. Her new living arrangement was not ideal, and Treva was often left alone as a teenager. It was then that her best friend's parents, the Bezinques, invited her to live with them and treated her as their own.
Treva was a graduate of Pittsburg High School and went on to work as a waitress at the Otto-way Drive-In, The Parsons Ammunition Plant, and as a proofreader for the Pittsburg Headlight Newspaper. She married Fred Van Becelaere on Sept. 16, 1961, and together they had three children, Rusty, Julie, and Scott. They raised their family as members of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Pittsburg. They purchased Van Becelaere Greenhouse from Fred's parents and also owned Freddy Van's Cycleland in the 1970s. Treva was proud to be a member of Phi Tau Omega Sorority, where she held many national offices, including National President and National Parliamentarian, and made many lifelong friends.
There are many phrases used to describe Treva. Among them are: beautiful inside and out, an amazing human with a contagious smile, made people feel loved with a simple hug, made people laugh with her wit and humor, and made everyone feel as if they mattered.
Treva Van Becelaere is survived by her husband, Fred Van Becelaere, of Pittsburg; her children, Rusty (Cindy) Van Becelaere, Julie Van Becelaere Ramage (Jody Elsasser), and her son Scott's wife, Diane Van Becelaere, all of Pittsburg. Sadly, Treva was preceded in death by her son Scott.
She leaves behind ten grandchildren: Susie, Lorin, Maddy, Tate, Matt, Ashley, Rachel, Tanner, Zach, and Chloe, and three great-grandchildren, Maddie, Riley, and Bentley.
A rosary will be recited Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Pittsburg. The family will receive friends following the Rosary from 7 to 8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Father Chris Rumback as Celebrant. Burial will follow in Highland Park Cemetery.
Memorial donations can be sent to First Ladies Farm Animal Sanctuary, 13028 Shadow Run Blvd, Riverview, FL 33569.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral home in Pittsburg, Kansas.
