Beverly B. Bang 1940-2012

BANG LEVENHAGEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/4/2012 at 21:09:10

Sioux City Journal
October 21, 2012

SIOUX CITY | Beverly B. Bang, 72, of Sioux City died Oct. 17, 2012, at a local hospital.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Morningside Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Darrin Vick officiating. In accordance to her wishes, her body was cremated and she will be buried at a later date next to her parents. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present starting at 6 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be sent to www.christysmith.com.

Beverly was born on May 7, 1940, in Sioux City, the daughter of Mabel (Levenhagen) and Leonard Bang. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St. Luke Lutheran Church and was a current and very active member of Morningside Lutheran Church, where she was a greeter and participated in small group bible study. Bev graduated from East High School in 1958 and continued her education at the University of Iowa, where she obtained her bachelor and master degrees in physical therapy. Over the years, she loved to take courses through eight different universities, which included art appreciation, opera and many others that interested her. She loved to further her knowledge.

Bev worked as a physical therapist for 35 years in many cities including Minneapolis and San Francisco, where she worked at St. Mary’s Hospital for 23 years until she returned to Sioux City where she was employed by the Sioux City School system as a physical therapist until her retirement. She loved getting to know and work with people of mixed cultures, religion and beliefs and dearly loved to have long conversations with them and to be their friend. She loved helping people.

Her love of travel took her to many places where she experienced seeing, meeting different people and seeing new things. Card playing was one of her favorites including bridge and canasta and she took great pride in teaching her three great nephews how to play poker. She loved being part of the Stolen Family and her church family was also very special to her. She also loved getting together with her East High Class of 1958 lunch bunch and the Red Hats. She was a member of numerous organizations including professional, Masonic, social and educational.

Bev was a very fun-loving person, known for her sense of humor and her love for life and people, always being the life of the gathering and loved having a glass of her favorite (mostly California) wine. Family was very special to her and took great pride in watching her three nephews grow up.

Survivors include her brother-in-law, Vern Stolen Sr. of Sioux City; niece and her husband, Lynette and Stan Gable of Hartley, Iowa; her three nephews, Colton and Megan Gable of Hartley, Preston Gable and his fiancee, Amber Vander Veen and Thurston Gable, all of Ames, Iowa; and many family and friends.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Leonard and Mabel; her sister, Muriel Stolen; and her nephew, Vernon “Scoot” Stolen Jr.

Even with her physical limitations, she was able to be out and about, touching so many people with her love of life and laughter, never complaining about her limitations. Her favorite quote was “To Thine Own Self Be True”. She was a true servant of God. Her wishes for cremation have been carried out. We will always treasure our memories of our dear Bev and take great comfort that God has received her with open arms. We were blessed to have her here on earth, and now God is blessed to have her in heaven.

Memorials may be directed to Morningside Lutheran Church, The Make a Wish Foundation or The Muscular Dystrophy Association.