Beverly Joan (Espeland) CHRISTENSEN

CHRISTENSEN, ESPELAND, RIFEN, NORGAARD, BUTLER, DAVIS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:46

Beverly Joan (Espeland) Christensen
December 13, 1935 - August 3, 2021

Beverly Joan Christensen (Espeland) passed away on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 85 years old with the surrounding love of her daughters.

Beverly was born on December 13, 1935 in Eagle Grove, Iowa to Howard Silas Espeland and LeVeda June (Rifen).

Music was important to Beverly, a love beginning at the age of seven when her parents bought her a piano. She could hear the music and amazingly play it by ear! Music permeated her life and by the age 10 years old she played in her dad's band, "The Melodees", in the late 40's and early 50's. In her later years she played at the Nazarene Church in Chariton, Iowa.

Her parents moved to Atlantic, Iowa and owned a small grocery store where she helped with the family business. Beverly graduated from high school in 1953 and then began training to become a nurse at the University of Nebraska at Jennie Edmundson in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She was unable to finish college due to family obligations, but she always carried with her an interest in nursing and medicine.

Beverly married Dale Arnold Christensen on August 8, 1954. Together they had four daughters: Dalene, Julene, Charlene and Marcalene.

Beverly enjoyed being on the farm outside of Harlan, Iowa and helping Dale with the Windy Knoll Dairy business. Years later they started a trucking business and worked together for over thirty years. In the mid 70's she and Dale moved to a farm by Chariton, Iowa where they raised pigs, horses and farmed along with the trucking business.

Beverly is survived by her daughters, Dalene (Bob) Norgaard of Ankeny, Iowa, Charlene (Daniel) Butler of Litchfield Park, Arizona and Marcalene (Todd) Davis of Carlisle; sister-in-law, Helen Espeland of Nebraska; 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and LeVeda; husband, Dale; daughter, Julene; and brother, Paul.

Bev took great delight in flowers, birds, beautiful sunsets, and the beauty of nature. She will be remembered for her love of God, her love for her family and friends and her vibrant, outgoing personality.

A Celebration of Life will be planned for a later date.
Cards can be sent to: Marcy Davis 3698 170th Ave. Carlisle, Iowa 50047

https://www.celebratelifeiowa.com/obituary/598193/beverly-christensen/