Beth Ann Winter

Beth Ann Winter passed away on November 19, 2023 after bravely battling a brief but very severe illness. She was born on May 5th, 1953 to Arthur and Sarah Joan (nee Palmer) Armagost. Beth attended Freeport High School and Illinois State University. In 1974, she married her Jr. High/High School sweetheart and love of her life, Mark Winter, and they lived in Versailles, France while he finished his degree in architecture through the University of Illinois and she spent the year travelling and studying with him throughout Europe, continuing her studies in art history. Afterwards they settled in their hometown of Freeport, to pursue their dreams and raise their family.

If you knew her, you undoubtedly felt her unwavering love, selflessness, and if she felt it necessary, tenacity on your behalf. Though she worked for many local companies such as BlackDot, Honeywell, Structo and ultimately Winter Construction, her 3 children and 6 grandchildren were really her passion, life’s work, and the center of her universe. The school and extracurricular activities of her children and grandchildren were always the focus of her week. She especially loved hosting holiday get-togethers with family and friends. Beth joyfully and artistically brought every season and holiday to life in the home she made with Mark and her children. She enjoyed traveling and took every opportunity to visit Boston or Arizona, skiing in Colorado or walking the beach in Florida, Kiawah, or even Tahiti so long as it included family or good friends.

Though the hearts of those who loved her are deeply broken, we try to take some solace from the words of Dr. Seuss that she often quoted when something wonderful had ended, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” So, we will think of you always, and we will smile.

Surviving are her husband, Mark Winter, of Freeport, daughter Sarah (Christopher) Whelan of Jamaica Plain, MA, sons Scott (Andrea) Winter, and Steven Winter, both of Freeport, Sister Mary (Warren) Zumdahl of Freeport. She is further survived by 6 grandchildren: Henry Andrew Winter, Corrine (Cora) Elizabeth Winter and Amelia Jane Winter of Freeport; Colin Covell Whelan and Imogen Grace Whelan of Jamaica Plain, MA; and Elias Arthur Winter. She is also survived by sister-in- law, Teresa Winter, of Freeport, brother-in- law Doug (Sherry) Winter of Hillsboro Beach, FL and niece Shelby Winter of Arlington Heights, IL. Preceding her in death were her parents Arthur and Joan Armagost, her infant sister Connie Jo, and sister-in-law Jan Winter.

A visitation will be held at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home in Freeport on Saturday November 25th from 3-5pm with a short funeral service to follow at 5pm. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in her name.