A funeral service for Beverly Buell, 92, of Spirit Lake, was held Friday, July 25, 2025, at Grace Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation for Beverly was on Thursday, July 24th, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake.
Beverly passed away July 21, 2025, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Dickinson County Trails, PO Box 304, Okoboji, IA, 51355, or click the link- https://dickinsoncountytrails.com/donate/, in order to place a bench along the trails in memory of Beverly.
Beverly Anne Buell, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away in her sleep this past Sunday evening, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, love, and deep devotion to family.
Born December 29, 1932, in Colman, South Dakota, Bev was the youngest of six children born to Danish immigrants Jens and Ella (Peterson) Wenge. She spent her early years attending a one-room country school through eighth grade, later graduating from high school in Flandreau, South Dakota.
On January 5, 1953, Bev married James E. Buell in Pipestone, MN, and moved to Hutchinson, Kansas, where Jim was stationed with the U.S. Navy. Their life together led them to Pipestone, Minnesota, and Estherville, Iowa. Ultimately, Bev built a life for herself in Spirit Lake, Iowa.
After raising her 5 children, Bev was employed by the Estherville Chamber of Commerce, ECHO (Emmet County Handicap Organization), and Iowa Lakes Community College. She was skilled in making (sewing, puzzling, woodworking), ‘jimmy-ing,’ and being a ‘fixer-wixer.’ Her proudest work was raising her family: Kim (Barb), Kevin (Sherry), Wendy (Keith), Kelly (Eric), and Bob (Chris).
Affectionately known by many names – Mother B, Gram/Granny/Grammi B – Bev was proud of her Danish heritage. The phrase, “You can always tell a Dane, but you can’t tell ’em much,” made her laugh. (She not only believed this, she lived it.)
She cherished time at the family cabin on Big Stoney Point at Big Spirit Lake, where countless summers were spent fishing, swimming, skiing, laughing, and goofing off. New Year’s Day at the Buell house—timed with Jim’s January 1st birthday—was a long-standing party tradition.
Bev came to be the matriarch of her expansive family, known for her laugh, direct commentary, and zest for life. She admired a “good farm girl” when she saw one, as that’s exactly what she was herself: humble, hardworking, and full of quiet strength.
She dearly loved her 16 grandchildren & 19 great-grandchildren, and they dearly loved her in return. Her love continues to bind generations together.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her three brothers and two sisters, her husband, Jim, and her son, Kevin.
Though Bev has left this earthly life, her warmth, strength, and sparkle live on in all who knew her. As she arrived at the pearly gates, her smile surely lit up the heavens as Saint Peter opened the doors wide and said, “Come on in, Bev, we welcome you.”
Turner Jenness Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
