Beverly Getzlaff

Funeral services will be Monday, March 24, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. at Zion Community Church in Wilmot. Rev. Dr. DeVern Schwenn will officiate and burial will be in the Wilmot Cemetery.

Visitation will be at the church on Sunday from 5 – 7 p.m. and continue on Monday one hour prior to the service.

Music will be provided by Melissa Broberg, pianist; Beverly's grandchildren and great-grandchildren, vocalists; and Dezeray Johnson, accompanist. Honorary bearers will be her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Casket bearers will be: Justin Feather, Jacob Nordquist, Christian Reimche, Jeremy Rufer, Cory Nordquist, and Myron VanHout, Jr.

Beverly was born on December 21, 1933, in Sioux Falls, SD. Her parents were James and Francis (Younker) Cameron. Beverly grew up on a farm in Lake Township near Wilmot, SD and attended a country school called the Lake #6 Cameron School (also called the Scottish School) about half a mile east of their home. Beverly and her brother, Calvin, were able to walk to school. One childhood memory Beverly never forgot was of the great tornado of June 17, 1944 - she had a great fear of storms after that.

On November 11, 1950, Beverly was united in marriage to Harold Nordquist in Wilmot, SD at the Community Methodist Church officiated by Pastor Clayton Fredrick. Their witnesses where Donnie Nordquist and Marcie Ammann. They had a small wedding with just family. Following the wedding, they had a reception out at her parent's farm.

Harold and Bev moved to a farm a couple miles east of Wilmot where they raised their family of seven kids. Harold developed Hodgkin's disease and later went into remission. Beverly got a job driving the route truck for Wilmot Cleaners (now Jean's Bridal). She would take the kids along at times. She also worked at a few restaurants in Wilmot, the City Cafe, Ellingson Cafe, and Susie Overby's cafe (KD's). She also worked at the Big Stone Canning Factory in Big Stone City, SD. Later in life, Bev found great fulfillment working with the residents of Wilmot Care Center.

In 1971, Harold and Bev became foster parents. They were parents to hundreds of children. In December of 1976 Harold had a heart attack and was hospitalized. He later gave up farming, and rented out the land. On May 3, 1977, Harold decided he didn't want to live in pain anymore and decided to take the risk and have heart bypass. He made it through the surgery but his heart wouldn't work without assistance. He passed away May 3, 1977. Beverly married Kenny Getzlaff in 1980. She continued to raise foster children and also cared for many grandchildren.

Beverly enjoyed playing the piano. She also enjoyed thrift stores, rummage sales, family reunions, family gatherings and her little dogs.

After hip replacement surgery on January 28, 2014, Beverly faced several complications. She passed from her earthly home and entered into her Heavenly home on March 20, 2014, at the Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD.

Beverly's smile and sense of humor will be greatly missed by her family: Debbie (Roger) Bjerke of Bismarck, ND; Jeff (Becky) Nordquist of Walcott, ND; Marcie (Tom) Reimche of Wahpeton, ND; Karen (Jim) Rufer of Strandburg, SD; Tom (Patty) Nordquist of Wilmot, SD; Laurie (Myron) VanHout of Wilmot, SD; and Josh (Deb) Nordquist of Wilmot, SD; her foster children, Robert (Tanya) Feather, Cary Getzlaff, Tonya (Bryan) Pew, Tucker Getzlaff, Tova Getzlaff, Jerry Locke, Marissa Getzlaff (granddaughter); 31 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; her brother Calvin Cameron of Wilmot, SD; a brother-in-law, many sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold and her parents, Jim and Francis Cameron, and step-mother, Grace Cameron.