Bethany Lee Hall

Bethany Lee (Mitchell) Hall passed away on April 12, 2026, in East Lansing, Michigan at the age of 84. She was born on June 5, 1941, in Lansing, Michigan to parents Elizabeth “Betty” Mitchell and A.J. “Pete” Mitchell. Known as “Beth” to her family and friends, she was the oldest of three children, having younger brothers Daniel “Dan” Mitchell and David “Dave” Mitchell. Beth lived almost her entire life in the Lansing area with the exception of one and a half school years at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1959, she graduated from Lansing Sexton High School and started college at the University of Michigan that Fall.

Following her first year in college, Beth began dating Benjamin “Ben” Hall of Lansing, Michigan. She left college during her second year, later became engaged to Ben, and they were married in Lansing at St. Gerard Catholic Church on August 26, 1961. Beth and Ben were married for over 43 years until Ben’s death in 2005. They had three children, Timothy “Tim” Hall born on October 4, 1962, Anne (Hall) Tahaney born on October 6, 1963, and Jeffrey “Jeff” Hall born on October 20, 1968. While Jeff was still a toddler, Beth went back to college, first taking classes at Lansing Community College, and later transferring to Michigan State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education degree in 1972.

After graduating from Michigan State University, Beth got a job in 1973 in a civilian capacity with the Michigan State Police at the headquarters in East Lansing. Over the course of 29 years, Beth worked her entire career in multiple positions for the State Police, with her final position in Emergency Management. While working for the State Police, she earned a Master of Public Administration degree in 1986 from Western Michigan University. In 2002, she retired from the State Police.

While raising three children, Beth balanced motherhood with returning to college and then working full-time. She was an unassuming person, worked hard, and took care of others without drawing attention to herself. As a mother, Beth showed interest in her children without being intrusive, and fostered independence in them while not showing any neglect.

Beth lived in three different residences in Meridian Township, Michigan from 1975 until her death. Her three children all graduated from Okemos High School. Beth and Ben were founding members of St. Martha Catholic Church in Okemos.

Beth was a very analytical person with a love of reading and solving puzzles. In retirement, she used her analytical ability to do extensive genealogical research into her parents’ families as well as her husband’s parents’ families. From that research, Beth wrote multiple volumes on different branches of those families and shared those volumes with other family members.

Beth is survived by three children and their spouses: Timothy (Alejandrina) Hall of Gardena, California; Anne (Tim) Tahaney of East Lansing, Michigan; and Jeffrey (Miki) Hall of Kyoto, Japan. Beth is also survived by five grandchildren: Alexander (Sami) Hall of San Francisco, California, Nadia Hall of Kyoto, Japan, Madison (Michael) Faulkner of O’Fallon, Illinois, Travis Tahaney of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, and Jake (Emily) Tahaney of Lisle, Illinois; by one great-grandchild: Emmett Faulkner of O’Fallon, Illinois; and by two brothers: Daniel (Patricia) Mitchell of San Antonio, Texas, and David (Debbie) Mitchell of Canton, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Beth’s name to St. Martha Parish and School, Okemos, Michigan.

The family will receive friends at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, East Chapel, 1730 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, Thursday from 4-6 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Martha Church, 1100 W. Grand River Ave., Okemos, Friday at 11 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10 a.m.