Beverly Anderson, 89, of Pierre, SD formerly of Murdo, SD died Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at Avantara in Pierre. Services will be held at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at Murdo United Methodist Church in Murdo, SD. Family will greet visitors one hour prior to service. Her burial will be at a later date.
On November 14, 1935, a brown-eyed baby girl was born into the family of a hardworking gentle Swiss immigrant and his spirited country wife. Like many babies from the Badlands area, Beverly Jean was born in a maternity home in Gordon, Nebraska. After a short stay, her parents Larry and Pearl Heinrich brought her to their prairie home near Scenic on the fringe of the Badlands. She joined an older brother Loren and was later gifted her baby sister Margie. Beverly and Margie were kindred spirits and loved each other deeply. Even though their adult lives separated them in miles, their hearts were always together.
Beverly grew up among two large, diverse, and resilient extended families in a sometimes harsh but beautiful land. Even though they worked tirelessly and lived modestly, there was always enough love and laughter (and cousins!!) She learned patience, tolerance, and gratitude from her father, who she proudly referred to as “my Daddy” her entire life. Her fire and tenacity? That came from her Mom for sure.
As an adolescent, Beverly was swept up in the polio epidemic. Even though it broke their hearts, her parents took her to quarantine at the polio treatment center in Hot Springs. She would later say “That was the first time I had ever seen my Daddy cry”. After a long separation from everything she knew and loved, having endured difficult and painful treatments, she recovered and returned home to her grateful family.
Beverly attended Kube Table country school as a child, then attended high school in New Underwood as well as Rapid City. After graduation, she worked in Rapid City where she met and fell in love with Larry Lynn Glaze. Larry and Beverly were married on January 22nd, 1955. Larry was a “jack of all trades”, and his varied employment and desire to give his growing family a better life led them to have many homes in several states.
Beverly first became a mother with the birth of their daughter, Marlene Marie in 1957. Marlene (Casey) McMillan gave them two grandsons, Eric (Kelly) McMillan and Mark (Destrie) McMillan, who then added 5 great-grandchildren to her life.
In 1958, their son Brett Lynn was born. Beverly held Brett in her arms for only 8 days, but in her heart for the rest of her life.
In 1960, daughter Terri Lyn arrived. Terri Bachelor (Tom) Watt gave Beverly and Larry two granddaughters, Jennifer (Hans) Johnson and Jamie (Nick) DeGeest, who then added 4 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson into their Grandma’s world.
In 1961, son Gregory Dean arrived. Greg (Lea) Glaze added two more granddaughters, Janna Glaze and Calli Glaze for Beverly to love, and another great grand-son was welcomed into Bev’s ever growing family.
1963 brought daughter Cheryl Kay into the world. Cheryl Volmer gave her mom one granddaughter, Ellissa (Kevin) Weaver and one grandson, Brandell (Lori) Volmer. They provided her with 3 more beautiful great-grandbabies.
In 1966, they finished their family with the birth of daughter Debra Jean. Deb (Tim) Byrd added two grandsons, Kirk (Marie) Byrd and Ty Byrd, who then added one more great-grandchild to Beverly’s already full lap and heart.
When it came to raising her family, Beverly was a force of nature. Her children grew up in a safe and happy home with clear rules and expectations, along with forgiveness, fun and an abundance of laughter. And love. So much love.
Once her kids were all attending school full-time, Beverly began to work outside the home again. She began part-time work at Best Western Grahams front desk, followed by a long career as the receptionist at the Jones County Clinic along with bookkeeping for James Szana DDS. Beverly was among the small but determined group of people that worked so very hard to establish the first ambulance in Jones County. She became a certified EMT and served the newly formed ambulance service proudly for many years. After giving retirement a shot, she returned to work part-time keeping books at the Triple H Truck Stop. Larry lived to celebrate 29 anniversaries with Beverly, meet 4 of his 10 grandbabies, and see all his children graduate high school, but passed away unexpectedly in January of 1985.
Beverly spent any spare time she found stitching, gardening, reading and was an exceptional painter. These things were always secondary to spending time with her kids and grandkids. She loved them deeply, as they did her. She made no secret of the fact that she was so very, very proud of them all.
Beverly found love for a second time and in 1992 married Clifford Anderson. Cliff added two stepsons; Kevin Anderson and Brett Anderson, and a stepdaughter Randee (Steve) Henle and their families to Beverly’s life. Cliff and Bev worked, played, laughed, traveled and loved each other well. They were inseparable in the good years, and he remained by her side when she became lost in the relentless and unforgiving pain, confusion and anger that is dementia. They shared a room at Avantara in Pierre until Cliff passed away in December of 2023.
Other loved ones preceding her in death were her parents Larry and Pearl Heinrich, her brother Loren Heinrich, her sister Margie Androes, Larry Glaze and their infant son Brett, and her son-in-law Tom Watt.
She is survived by all of her children and their families, along with a host of nieces, nephews and their extended families.
Our Mom/Grandma was the source of our strength and happiness and gave us enough love to last 100 lifetimes. We will forever be profoundly grateful for her and are so proud to be her children and grandchildren. Goodbye Mom/Grandma, we promise to keep our damn hands to ourselves, keep the sass to a minimum and to take good care of each other. You can rest now.
