Mrs. Peggy Eberly Belser

Peggy Eberly Belser died peacefully at her home in The Clearing household at Reba Place Fellowship in Evanston, Illinois, on Thursday, August 15, 2024. She was one month short of her 95th birthday. She was born September 12, 1929 in Lancaster Pennsylvania, to Milton and Barbara Eberly, a dedicated Church of the Brethren couple in a strong Anabaptist community. She was the oldest of three children, followed by Helen (Keller), then Harold Eberly. Peggy’s Anabaptist roots shone brightly throughout her life.

Peggy loved to tell of her elementary school days in a little one-room schoolhouse where children could work together. She came to know Julius Belser, a neighbor boy, in the church youth group. One high school highlight was when Julius accompanied the Eberlys on a trip to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference.

After high school Peggy took a gap year with Brethren Voluntary Service as a Peace Caravanner. This meant traveling with a group of young people around the country visiting Anabaptist churches, encouraging them to uphold the traditional stance for peace and

nonviolence. Her assignment had its challenges in the years right after WW2, but she said it really helped mature her faith. She returned home to attend Elizabethtown College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.

In August of 1952 Peggy and Julius Belser were married. A year later when Julius graduated from college, they moved to Chicago to attend Bethany Biblical Seminary. In October of 1955 Nevin joined the family. After seminary, where Peggy earned a masters in Christian Education, they took an interim pastorship at First Church of the Brethren on Chicago’s West side, Nina was born in

October of 1957. In seminary they met Archie Hargraves and heard about the West Side Christian Parish. They chose to remain on

the West side of Chicago to join the work of the Parish and started the Church of Hope in the Maxwell Street area, a predominantly black neighborhood. Ann was born there in 1959. Even with the help of several wonderful partners, this ministry proved very difficult and

overwhelming for the young family. They moved to Evanston in 1965 to join Reba Place Fellowship, a sister community, to find healing and renewal.

Early on in their time at Reba, Peggy was involved in hospitality. Many people were interested in intentional community in those days. She was the community guest coordinator for over forty years. The family lived in several different places at Reba over the next few years. In the spring of 1972, the Belsers joined Betty Roddy and her family at 722 Monroe to start the first extended family household at Reba. This household became known as The Clearing and that is where Peggy lived the rest of her life.

Julius and Peggy engaged with others in an amazing variety of care, service and ministry from that base for many years. They hosted Julius’ parents and brother at the end of their lives and shared life with hundreds of brothers and sisters and guests over the years. Julius passed on in December of 2018 and Peggy watched over The Clearing life from her recliner in the living room until a week before she died. Peggy is preceded in death by Julius, her sister Helen Keller, and brother Harold Eberly. She is survived by her children: Nevin (Judy) of Comer, Georgia, Nina Frantz (Ronn) in Chicago, Illinois, and Ann Brown (Tom) from Lafayette, Indiana. Peggy had eight grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers friends may consider donations to one of the following: Heifer International, 1 World Ave., Little Rock AR,72202;

Hungry World Farm, PO 386, Tiskilwa, IL 61368 which inspires and educates people about healthy foods, fields, and bodies;

New Hope House, P.O. Box 1213 Griffin, GA 30224, which provides support for people on Georgia’s death row and their families.

Please keep the family in your prayers.

Arrangements entrusted to Thompson Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. Mr. Philip L. Gillette

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