1940-BEVERLY VASKE-2017
Beverly Langer Vaske was born on December 6, 1940 in Kinbrae, Minnesota to Clifford and Beatrice (Haberman) Langer. She was raised on a farm in Minnesota with her two sisters. She attended elementary school in Kinbrae, MN and graduated from Fulda High School in 1958. She went on to attend Mankato Business College in Minnesota, graduating in March, 1959. Beverly then moved to Sioux Falls, SD to work as a legal secretary at Hogan & Hartson Law Firm. It was at the Sioux Falls Arkota Dance Hall that she met her future husband, Jim. Beverly moved to Washington, D.C. in 1962 and continued to work as a legal secretary. Beverly and Jim were united in marriage on December 31, 1962 at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Fulda, Minnesota. The couple made their home in Washington, D.C. for 10 years before relocating to Aberdeen, South Dakota, where they lived for thirty years and where they raised their three children, Mark, Ann and Mary.
Beverly was a member of Aberdeen St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters of America Chapter and Women’s Guild. Beverly devoted many years volunteering at Aberdeen’s St. Luke’s Hospital. One of her greatest and proudest achievements was becoming President of the SD Association of Hospital Auxiliaries in 1991, representing her home state of South Dakota for a two year term at local and national conventions. She supported the Aberdeen Roncalli Schools system, where their children attended, and was also a real estate agent.
Beverly and Jim retired to Surprise, Arizona in 2005, to enjoy the warmer weather and be closer to their grandchildren. She and Jim went on to call the Sun City Grand Senior Community their permanent home. Beverly was an active member of the Sewing and Knitting Club, and took great pride in leaving each of her grandchildren with a special quilt or knitted afghan and was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and Women’s Guild.
Beverly and Jim enjoyed numerous ocean cruises to the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Panama Canal, Arctic Circle, and trips to Hawaii. Some of her greatest highlights from her travel adventures were kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland, seeing the Midnight Sun at the Arctic Circle, and touring the Vatican in Rome. Hawaii always held a special place in Beverly’s heart and she loved shopping at the International Marketplace and Hilo Hattie’s store.
Beverly Passed away on July 17, 2017.
Grateful for having shared her life is her husband of fifty-five years, Jim; son Mark; daughters Ann (husband Todd), and Mary; her six grandchildren and one great grandson; two sisters, Arlene (husband Mel), and Karen.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Clifford and Beatrice Langer and one brother-in-law.
