Obituary: LaRayne Barbara (Barb) Beaver, 91 of Ludington

Barbara Beaver

LaRayne Barbara (Barb) Beaver, 91 of Ludington, formally of Fairmont, Minnesota, passed quietly away on Thursday, November 12, 2026 in Grand Rapids.

LaRayne Barbara Gimm was born on June 4, 1935 in Fairmont, the daughter of Rudolph and Esther (Murtaugh) Gimm. She graduated from Fairmont High School in 1953 and attended Downer College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Barb married Verlon Prafke on October 30, 1954 and they relocated to Moscow, Idaho for Verlon’s college education at the University of Idaho.  The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service later moved the family to Oconto, Wisconsin and then over to the Ludington station.

Barb and her five children’s lives forever changed July 22, 1965, when Verlon was killed while on the job. Barb later married Richard (Dick) Beaver on January 28, 1967. He proceeded her in death September 11, 2022.  She worked for many years as a hostess for Gibb’s Country House Restaurant followed by many years of working for the Mason County Probate Court as a guardian for those in need. Barb enjoyed living in Ludington, calling it “God’s Country”. She was very fond of birds, Ludington State Park, the beaches of Lake Michigan and her Episcopal Church.  Barb was a talented pianist. Her greatest love and joy however were cooking for and taking care of her family and friends.

She is survived by her six children: Greg (Pamela) Prafke, Jennifer (Steve) Klemm, Laurel Prafke, Caryn (John) Morin, Randy (Tammie) Prafke and Lonn Beaver; 13 grandchildren: Marissa (Nick) Clay, Toby and Bryce Prafke, Andy (Sarah) Klemm, Evan Klemm, Echo (Bill) Poore, Taryn (Craig) Hatch, Nick (Jaime) Prafke, Meaghan Morin, Tyler (Madalyn) Morin, Klaire (Brandon) Friedl, Rylan (Rebecca) Prafke and Cole Beaver; nine great-grandchildren Wells, Quinn and Hollis Klemm, Hadlyn Poore, Brady and Haley Applegate, Peter and Oliver Prafke and Emerson Friedl. Other surviving family members include Tom and Karen Beaver, Amy (Craig) Eastman, Alice Gimm and many special nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and both husbands, Barb was proceeded in death by; her parents-in-law Edward and Mary Ann Beaver; her brothers Richard and DeArv Gimm, sisters-in-law Pat and Shirley Gimm, Joanne Krawetzki and Lenagene Prafke; brother-in-law Merlys Prafke; and nephew Kevin Beaver.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November, 21 2026 at 1 p.m. at Grace Funeral Home of Ludington with visitation starting at noon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Michigan Audubon; 2310 Scenic Parkway, Ste 200, Okemos, MI 48864.

Arrangements were entrusted to Grace Funeral Home and Cremation Services, www.GraceCremations.com.