The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Meet Your Neighbor

by Deb Olson, The Quill

Meet your neighbor Mitch Beals who was born in Macomb. Mitch is the son of Kevin and Sherry (Pence) Beals. He grew up in La Harpe but now lives in Stronghurst.

Mitch works with his dad Kevin at the family business, Banks and Beals Funeral Home, which serves locations in La Harpe. Dallas City and Stronghurst. For the past year and a half he has also been assisting at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, Biggsville and Oquawka.

Mitch's mom, Sherry, is a 1st grade teacher at La Harpe Elementary.

He has a brother Mason who also works at Banks and Beals Funeral Home.

Mitch's sister, Madison, is married to Kevin Mershon

His maternal grandparents are Bill and Vieva Pence. Mitch works part time helping his grand-dad on the farm.

His paternal grandparents are Patsy Banks and the late Dean Beals. After Dean's death Patsy married Bill Housewright .

Mitch attended Illini West and while in high school he played on the school's 2008 State Championship football team. He graduated from Illini West in 2010.

He then went on to attend Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg. where he studied Mortuary Science. As part of his studies he completed an 8 week internship at Mueller Funeral Home in La Salle- Peru.

Mitch enjoys hunting with both bow and shotgun. He also loves to ride his Harley Davidson, a dyna wide glide. Mitch's favorite vacation was this past summer when he and his brother rode their bikes to California

Mitch is a part of the fourth generation of his family to work at Banks and Beals.