Beverly Jean Nathe, 87, passed away in her home Easter Monday, April 1, 2024.
Born June 23, 1936, to Henry and Clara (Nieland) Roberts in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, Bev attended and graduated from Cathedral High School in St. Cloud in 1954. She was a proud Crusader. She married Gerard Nathe May 25, 1957, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sauk Rapids. They made their home in Avon where they raised their six children.
Bev would say her most important job was raising her six kids. If there was a school program, concert, activity or sport competition for one of her kids, she was there. If they were involved in a group, she quite possibly organized or led it. For 25 years, she volunteered as a Girl Scout leader for her four daughters’ troops, and for 10 years she served as a den mother for her two sons’ Cub Scout packs.
Next to her family, Bev was possibly most proud of her work with the Avon Food Shelf. Growing up in a family with limited means, she embraced the opportunity to help others who may be hungry. In 1980, Bev was involved in St. Benedict’s Renew program, which led to her being key in the founding of the Avon Food Shelf. Making sure families were fed was important to her. She worked as the director for many years and just recently stepped down from her role there. At Christmas time, Bev delivered gifts to local families’ homes to make sure children had something under the tree on Christmas morning.
Bev was a member of the Church of St Benedict more than 65 years. Bev was a past director and member of the Christian Mothers. She helped form St. Benedict’s local chapter of the Catholic Aid Association. She coordinated the altar servers for 10 years. Over the course of many years, she and her family ran the fishpond and the country store at the annual church bazaar. She and Gerry instilled in their children the importance of volunteering.
Bev became a salesperson for Avon Cosmetics in 1983 and worked part-time at the local True Value.
Bev had a passion for most any crafting. She proudly entered her embroidered dishtowels at the county fair. For many years she taught craft classes at the Whitney Senior Center in St. Cloud. Her love for crafting was matched by her love for baking. Banana bread, pumpkin bars, rhubarb crisp, along with many kinds of Christmas cookies were among her favorites. There was always an ice cream pail of cookies on the kitchen counter. Each birthday, family members looked forward to what special cake she was decorating for them. From Bert and Ernie to Barbie to fishing, they were decorated with love.
On three separate occasions in her lifetime, Bev cared for a sister battling cancer. In 1998, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Determined to not let cancer beat her, she fought hard and survived.
Bev is survived by her six children, Geralyn Nathe-Evans of St. Cloud, Mary (Chuck) Merchant of Baudette, David (Amy) Nathe of Surprise, Arizona, Vicki (Steve) Dawson of Fargo, North Dakota, Paul Nathe of Avon, and Nicole (Zach Quamme) Nathe of Fargo; 12 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gerry; her son-in-law, Dave Evans; her siblings, Viola Barthelemy, Opal Waltzing, Bernice “Dolly” Heinen, Jeanette Marose and Jim Roberts; and grandsons Charles Merchant and Jacob Dawson.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday, April 15, at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Avon. The Rev. Scott Pogatchnik will officiate with concelebrant the Rev. Edward Vebelun. Private burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be at St. Benedict’s Church from 3:30-7 p.m. Sunday, April 14, with parish prayers at 3:45 p.m. and Christian Mothers’ prayers at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will also take place one hour prior to Monday’s services.
Arrangements were by Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home
