 Beverly
Elaine Nelson
Beverly
Elaine Nelson completed the life God gave her August 10, 2010. She was
born on a stormy night on March 4th, 1935, to Arthur and Julia Thompson
in rural Brandt, South Dakota. She was one of six children; four
brothers and one sister. Two of her brothers died at an early age, and
two brothers have preceded her in death. Her family and extended meant a
lot to her, and she delighted in sharing stories of her childhood and
early married life. She met the “love of her life”, Alton ‘Bimmy’ Nelson
when she stayed with her grandparents and attended school “in town”
(Toronto, South Dakota) because of the unpredictable winter weather.
They were high school sweethearts and married July 27, 1952, in Denver,
Colorado, where Bimmy was stationed in the Air Force. Two small town
kids from a farming community in South Dakota were now beginning life
together in big, brand-new world full of people from all walks of life.
It was the start of many wonderful experiences, including the building
of numerous friendships and a family.
The Air Force was the beginning of Beverly’s moving career…four moves
while Bimmy was in the service, and fourteen more over the next
thirty-four years as the wife of a hotel comptroller. During this time,
in addition to adding ‘mother and domestic engineer’ to her resume’, she
became the consummate travel planner, navigator, on-the–road dietician,
real estate expert, peacekeeper (of up to five kids, a dog, parakeet,
and hamster, all in the backseat of a four-door sedan), home decorator,
and taxi service. She packed and unpacked a houseful of belongings
eighteen times; found, redecorated, and sold house; and got the kids
established in new schools and new lives in new locations… often without
much help from Bimmy, as he had to get right to work. Wherever she and
the family went, she got involved in the community, in the kid’s school
activities, such as PTA, Room Mother, Brownies and Girls Scout, but most
of all; she made every house into a HOME.
Beverly had a fierce love of life and the people in it. She enjoyed
fishing, boating, bowling, and having friends over for card games and
parties. Going to garage sales were her passion along with reading and
playing Canasta. She was active in church, school, and community events;
always ready to help whenever called upon. Beverly seemed fearless when
it came to learning new things… she created her own patterns so that she
could sew clothes to fit her slender five- foot- eleven frame; she took
couches and chairs apart so she could figure out how to reupholster
them; she learned to water ski at fifty, and even took continuing
education classes to learn how to use a computer. She believed that
there’s no harm in trying; if you mess something up, you weren’t much
worse off because you were either unable to do it, or were going to have
to pay to have something fixed, anyway.
In 1990, she lost ‘her guy’ to leukemia; she missed her lifelong love
terribly, but never let it keep her from doing the many things she
needed to do. Beverly’s health began to deteriorate, and she had chronic
pain from hip and back problems. An aortic aneurysm nearly ended her
life in 2000, but she beat all the odds and survived. Beverly was the
ultimate fighter, and fought through pain, sorrow, and COPD to make life
better for those around her. She gave generously to her children,
church, friends in need, and numerous charities. She taught her children
to accept people as they are and for who they are, regardless of race,
socioeconomic status, or any other ‘label’.
On August 10, 2010, Beverly fought “the good fight” one more time, and
with the love and encouragement of her children, finally went on to be
with Bimmy and her family again. Since this is her nineteenth move, she
is most likely preparing another new home for her family who will join
her again one day. In lieu of flowers please make donations to either
the American Lung Association of Texas 8150 Brookriver Dr. Dallas, TX
75247-4053 or Dallas Life Foundation 1100 Cadiz St. Dallas, TX
75215-1064. |
Carrollton-Farmers
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