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Beverly Bloomsburg, 84

Beverly Ruth Bloomsburg died March 19, 2017, at age 84 in Rathdrum, Idaho. Bev was born in Aberdeen, S.D., on Aug. 16, 1932, to Walter and Dorothy Kyburz. Raised in Chicago, she was daddy’s little girl, but her mother instilled an early love of books in Beverly; a love affair that would last a lifetime.

Bev played the violin, French horn, viola and oboe. Growing up, she was always a member of orchestra and marching band. The family moved to Portland, Ore., in 1948, where Beverly finished high school, and then they moved to Spokane in 1950. Bev remembered fondly a summer spent on her aunt’s South Dakota farm when she was 9 years old. She liked the people and the lifestyle, and that was when she decided she would marry a farmer.

While attending Whitworth College, Beverly found her farmer. She was set up on a blind date with Joseph Bloomsburg, a rancher from Worley, Idaho. She came home after that date and told her mother she was going to marry that man. It took Bev less than a month to convince Joe she was right. He proposed, and they were married on March 15, 1952. She spent 65 years and four days reminding him she was still right.

As newlyweds, they moved to the Bloomsburg ranch on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Beverly started her home library with cook books as she took on the role of wife. They also started their family. Vicki was born on Dec. 24, 1952. Like her book collection, Bev’s family kept growing. By the time the family moved to Lewiston in 1959, Walter, Dorothy, Ruth and Peter had been born. Joe began teaching, first in Lewiston’s public schools, then at Lewis-Clark State College, but they kept the ranch. The family spent every summer there, hauling cattle and kids between the two homes. Jeffery was born in 1961. Bev worked on her degree in education at LCSC, and Anne was born shortly after Bev completed her bachelor’s degree. Gwen was born in 1971. Beverly instilled by example a strong work ethic, love for learning and zest for life in her children.

Joe and Bev moved back to the ranch on the lake full time in 1991, where they both became very involved in Grange. Bev was a member of Town & Country, Friends of the Library, and American Association of University Women. She was an avid proponent for and supporter of the Worley Senior Center. Meals at the Senior Center and card parties were beloved social events for Beverly. In recent years, Joe and Bev attended the Worley Church.

Bev never claimed she knew everything about parenting. She said she knew she had succeeded raising her children because they had all grown up to be people she enjoyed. She would often say this as she and Joe sat together on their front porch for the sunset over the lake on a summer evening. Joe and Bev lived on the lake until 2016, when they moved to an assisted living home in Rathdrum.

Bev was an amazing cook and, as a gardener, she could absolutely grow anything. She was a children’s librarian and library volunteer. She was a brilliant seamstress, and created any Halloween costume her grandchildren could imagine. She could figure out any problem or puzzle, and loved playing solitaire.

Beverly was a strong and lovely woman who laughed easily and loudly. She gave the world’s best hugs. Words cannot describe how much she will be missed.

Bev is survived by Joe, eight children and their spouses, 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service and celebration of her life will be planned for July. Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Beverly’s online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.