Beverly Ellen Pedersen

BEVERLY E. PEDERSEN Beverly Ellen Pedersen, 84, died Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 at Via Christi Health Center in Manhattan. Beverly was born in Atchison on Aug. 12, 1932, the youngest child of Egbert Ray Berry and Flossie Viola (Bean) Berry. Music was an important part of Beverly’s life. She learned to play the piano, and she sang in several high school vocal groups and had many friends who remained in touch with her throughout her life and through regular high school reunions. Beverly graduated from Atchison High School in 1950. She worked in movie theatres in Atchison, where she first met the man who would become her husband, and then worked for Southwestern Bell as an operator in Atchison. She married John “Jack” Randolph Pedersen on July 29, 1951, at the 1st Baptist Church in Atchison. Starting their life together, Beverly continued working at Southwestern Bell but transferred to Manhattan in 1952 where John was attending Kansas State University. Beverly was an active member of the 1st Baptist Church in Manhattan. In 1954, Beverly became an Air Force wife for three years living on Air Force bases in Arizona and Texas. Three years after finishing his active duty, Jack continued his schooling at KSU and they moved to Minnesota in 1960. While in Minnesota, Beverly was actively involved in the 1st Baptist Church in Hopkins, Minnesota, as the church pianist and Vacation Bible School teacher. The family moved back to Manhattan in 1968 where she remained until her death. During her 65-year marriage, Beverly raised four daughters and one son. Each one of them was a special love in her life. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the source of her continued desire to live a long and full life. Beverly was actively involved in Chapter 209, Order of the Eastern Star and Jobs Daughters Bethel 55 of Manhattan. Beverly served as Eastern Star Worthy Matron in 1983, when Chapter 209 celebrated its 50th Anniversary and then again in 1993. She held several Chapter offices during her membership including treasurer and organist. She also served as a district aide in 1989 for the Grand Chapter of Kansas and the Order of Eastern Star, and as Grand Representative of Wyoming in Kansas in 1997. Beverly was talented and had many interests including singing, playing piano, stained glass, painting, cross stitch, embroidery and sewing for her daughters. She had many opportunities to travel during her life, which she greatly enjoyed. She has traveled to many places in the United States as well as out of the country to Germany, France, England, the Netherlands and Canada. Beverly was preceded in death by her mother and father, sister Nonette Hope Petersen, brother Glenn A. Berry and granddaughter Leah Beret Neff. She is survived by her husband John “Jack”; daughters, Joni Ellen Pedersen Speirs, Lori Ann Thompson (Kevin), Juli Kai Pedersen and Amy Beret Neff (Darin); son, John Eric C Pedersen (Kristin); sisters Viola Rae Hefta of Owasso, Oklahoma, and Shirley Louise Snyder of Burlington, Iowa; grandchildren, Kristofer Adam Speirs (Shaughnessy), Micah Vance Speirs, Rebekah Ellen Speirs (Auric Mason), John Caleb Speirs (Ellen), Kyla Ann Piper (Jesse), Alex Robert Thompson, Shelby Nicole Acosta-Rosa (Honorio), Bradley Josef Neff, Tessa Kay Marie Pedersen and Nora Ellyn Pedersen; great-grandchildren, Eliot Grey Speirs, Violette Wynn Speirs, Maeve Clementine Speirs, John Aidyn Acosta Pedersen, Arabella Nichole Acosta and Crosby James Piper. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 at the First Baptist Church of Manhattan. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Manhattan, 2121 Blue Hills Road, Manhattan.