Beverly Veldt

Beverly Jean Sager Veldt, 86, of West Liberty, Ohio went Home to be with her beloved Lord and Savior at 5:21 A.M. Saturday, June 30, 2012 at Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine, Ohio.

She was born September 16, 1925 in Wayland, Michigan to Lyle Abram and Edna Mae Wilde Sager. On July 24, 1953, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, she married Gerben Veldt, who passed away December 3, 2004.

Also preceding her in death were brothers Robert (known as Upton Murakami), Dan, Richard, William, Wendell, Ronald, David, and Melvin; a sister, Ruth Spencer; a granddaughter, Jan Longjohn; a grandson, Ian Hornung and 6 great-grandchildren.

Beverly is survived by sisters Celia Hicks and Pat (Sparky) Myers, both of Republic, Michigan; a brother, Don (Shirley) Sager of Denver, Colorado and sisters-in-law Dottie, Betsy, Connee, and Laura Sager, Tyna Keith and Stena Bosma. She is also survived by children Becki (Jim) Meek of Hastings, Michigan, Deb (Stewart) Cottle of Irkutsk, Russia, Joel (Tonya) Veldt of West Liberty, Priscilla Veldt of Barron, Wisconsin, Esther (Dave) Tyler of Quincy, Ohio, Naomi (Terry) Dvorachek of Kaukauna, Wisconsin, and stepchildren Stan (Yvonne) Veldt of Moline, Michigan, Alice (Don) Norris of Paw Paw, Michigan, Don (Genevieve) Veldt of Rockford, Michigan, Richard (Rochelle) Veldt of Waseca, Minnesota, Marge (Gerald) Longjohn of Plainwell, Michigan, and Tim (Faye) Veldt of Battle Creek, Wisconson, 50 grandchildren, over 100 great-grandchildren, several great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

She got her teaching certificate and taught at Star and Tamarac schools – two of the last one-room schools in Michigan, before obtaining her bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University.

Shortly after they got married, Gerben and Beverly moved to Arizona to minister on the Navajo reservation with Navajo Gospel Mission. After serving there 5 years, they returned to the Midwest to join (now) Continental Baptist Mission. Beverly capably filled the role of missionary pastor’s wife as they started Faith Baptist Church in New London, Wisconsin and later took over the struggling work of First Baptist Church of Ogdensburg, Wisconsin and filled in at various other churches in northern Wisconsin over the years.

Beverly especially enjoyed conducting Good News Clubs for neighborhood children, hosting various women’s banquets and showers and providing hospitality for college students, missionaries, family and friends.

She was known for crocheting or sewing blankets for each new grandchild, gardening, canning, playing Dominoes, and sending cards for birthdays and anniversaries to virtually everyone for which she had addresses. Grandchildren knew to look for the crisp “Birthday Buck” sure to be tucked in until age 18.

A memorial service will be held in the Foundation Hall at the Green Hills Retirement Community in West Liberty, Ohio Wednesday, July 4, 2012 at 1:00 P.M. with visitation from 11:30 until the time of the service.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, July 6, 2012 at the Merson Church 3313 102nd Ave. Gobles, MI 49055. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 P.M. Thursday at the church. Interment will be at the Alamo Center Cemetery in Alamo, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Continental Baptist Mission 11650 Northland Drive Northeast Rockford, MI 49341 or Baptist Mid-Mission Siberia work, PO Box 308011 Cleveland, OH 44130-8011

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