Beverly Bartels

Beverly Bernice (Bohlmann) Bartels was born on a farmstead near Utica, South Dakota on January 18, 1936 to Clara (Diede) and Gustave Bohlmann and passed away on December 31, 2021 in Tobias, Nebraska at the age of 85. She was baptized and confirmed at Martinus Lutheran Church.She was the middle of 11 children, and had five brothers and five sisters. She shared many times that she was pleased to have been able to watch her younger siblings and therefore she never had to work outside doing farm chores. She loved education and rode with neighbors to Yankton every Sunday and home again on Friday so she could attend high school there. During the week she boarded in town and worked at a restaurant. It was while she was waiting tables that she met her husband-to-be, Eugene Bartels, who was working on the Lewis and Clark Dam and came in to eat. She mentioned that she got off early one evening and Gene’s coworkers told him he needed to ask her out. He did so. They were married on May 1, 1955 and celebrated their 66th anniversary last year. They had six children, Tim (Vicki) Bartels, of Grand Island, Terry Bartels, who died shortly after his birth, Tom Bartels who was Terry’s twin and lives in Minnesota, Teresa Kapperman, of Geneva, Dan (Patti) Bartels, of Tobias, and Susie (Rex) Stewart, of Tobias.After their marriage in 1955 they farmed for a couple years at Tobias. Drought forced them in a new direction. Eugene found work as a union carpenter on dams in the Midwest. Beverly followed with the family. Their homes included Fort Pierre, SD, Highmore, SD, Albuquerque, NM, and Junction City, KS. In 1966 they moved back to the farm at Tobias.In addition to raising her kids, Beverly held a variety of jobs outside of the home. She cleaned Zion Lutheran School, drove bus for Meridian Public School, cooked at the Fillmore County Hospital and for the Western Elementary School. Many of her students still comment on the excellent meals they enjoyed. She went back to school at SCC and earned her degree.Beverly loved quilting and made many quilts and lap blankets. Her stitches were tiny and perfect. Her quilts received purple ribbons at the county and state fairs. She also made relief quilts for the needy in third world countries.Beverly had the patience of a saint and loved her 18 grand and 31 great grandchildren. She taught them to sew and do needle work and loved reading to them and holding them on her lap. She loved her church and was active in the ladies group and had the distinction of being the first female to be on the church board (secretary).Beverly said that her love of travel started when she was 18. Her uncle died and left her enough money to take a short trip to the Black Hills. She loved visiting her brothers and sisters all over the United States. She soon became a world traveler. She went to Mexico, Paris, Hawaii and Peru with Gene, to Hong Kong, Japan and Italy with Teresa, and Australia, Russia, England, Africa and many other places on her own.Beverly loved games and was a great competitor. She was a great card player and was hard to beat at 5-point pitch and Rook. It was one thing that she could continue to do for her entire life and even though she overbid and played the wrong cards the last few years, it usually worked to her advantage.Beverly was brilliant and it was that brilliance that made the last few years fun. She would come up with sly sayings at the most unexpected times.“Gene, you’re going to get fat with those new teeth of yours.”—after he got his dentures.“Gene, don’t go swimming tonight.” Said when we were fishing just North of the Nursing Home in Geneva.Beverly is survived by her husband and children, her 18 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren, her sister, Karen Johnson, her brother Roger (Francis) Bohlmann, her brother-in-law, Allen Buschelman, sisters-in-law Dorothy Bartels, and Priscilla (Ben) Scholl, and tons of nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her son (Terry) her parents, her sisters, Mae (Pete) Wagner, Irene (Glenn) Gross, Laverne (John) Hayes, Myla Buschelman, her brothers, Gus (Pat and Hettie) Bohlmann, Rein (Dolly) Bohlmann, Burnell (Mary) Bohlmann, Cliff Bohlmann, and her brothers-in-law, Junior Bartels, Gene Jordan and Laverne Johnson.A Funeral Service for Beverly was held on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in rural Tobias, Nebraska with Pastor Gideon Pullman presiding.Organist, Janile Campbell, accompanied the congregation as they sang 3 hymns for the funeral service for Beverly, “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross”, “Jesus Loves Me” and “Jesus Lives! Victory’s Won”.Casket Bearers included Keith Kapperman, Jesse Bartels, Christopher Stewart, Michael Bartels, Brandon Bartels and Eric Bartels.Honorary Casket Bearers were Dusty Bartels, Thane Stewart and Ty Stewart.Graveside Services were conducted following the funeral service in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery.Memorials were directed to the family to be designated at a later date.Farmer & Son Funeral Home was in charge of funeral arrangements. b

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