Beatta Jean Edwards, 96, of Storm Lake passed away Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake surrounded by her family.
Funeral services will take place Wednesday, June 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 4, from 4-6 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake.
Beatta Jean Edwards was born March 8, 1928, in Linn Grove, the daughter of Harvey Evans and Opal (Johnson, Evans) Gaffin. Beatta weighed only two and a half pounds at birth and slept in a cigar box. She was welcomed into this world by her brother Darwin and sister Leone.On July 29, 1928, Beatta was baptized at the Lutheran Church in Linn Grove. In her youth, Beatta was a member of Girl Scouts and Rainbow.
Beatta attended grades one through 12 at Storm Lake public schools.She graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1945. She continued her education at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, where she earned her teacher’s certificate in 1947. Beatta taught school at Nemaha and Fairview.
On May 29, 1949, Beatta was united in marriage to Kenneth Edwards at the Methodist Church in Storm Lake. They lived on a farm east of Storm Lake.
Beatta used her money to get them set up in the chicken business. She also spent many days canning meat, freezing chickens, making homemade cinnamon rolls, jams, jellies and apple butter, and canning and freezing fruits and vegetables.
To this union two children were born, Wayne J and Ann Louise.
The family joined the Congregational Church in Newell Dec. 12, 1954. Beatta taught Bible School and Sunday School for several years at the Congregational Church. After her children were born, Beatta went back to Buena Vista College and earned her bachelor’s degree in 1962.She taught school at Newell Providence from 1963 to 1983 when she retired. One of her greatest joys was seeing or hearing from her former students and sharing memories, smiles, hugs and laughs with them.
Many happy days were spent in the farmhouse gathered around the kitchen table with neighbors, family and friends enjoying fresh baked goods or a delicious meal. The egg coffee was always the main attraction.After the lunch or a meal, it was not uncommon for Beatta to challenge her guests to a game of lawn darts or croquet out in the yard. Beatta’s kitchen also served as a roller rink, basketball court, dart game room and a chemistry lab for her children. Stern discipline was always the answer when the games became too rough.
Beatta and Kenny took their family on many vacations while the kids were growing up. They traveled to Chicago, Colorado Springs, Portsmouth, N.H., and the Black Hills. Some of the best vacations were with good friends at Lake Okoboji and Lake of the Woods. Beatta and Kenny always enjoyed attending the Spencer Fair every year and making those special trips to visit Wayne and his family wherever they were living in the United States. Many trips were made to Illinois to visit Ann and Tony. Beatta and Kenny spent a lot of days in the summer months playing in two-balls with their good friends at many of the area golf courses.
Throughout her lifetime, Beatta had many activities that she thoroughly enjoyed including dancing and square dancing, playing the piano and chording on the piano with Kenny on his accordion, playing cards, golfing, reading, solving word scrambles and going out to eat. One of Beatta’s hobbies was collecting small teacups and saucers.
Every week, Beatta looked forward to getting her hair done by Brenda at The Cutting Edge. Beatta often enjoyed the simple pleasures of life like sharing a smile with someone, hot fudge sundaes, popcorn, a cold beer, the colors yellow and green, getting new clothes, decorating the house for the holidays and the seasons, new soft towels, animals — especially dogs, and Ann and Tony’s dog, Maggie, birds chirping, setting the table with her holiday dishes for family meals and special occasions and teaching. Reading her Bible and the Portals of Prayer everyday were important for Beatta. In her later years, Beatta often challenged herself to remember her former students and the classes they were in.
Beatta and Kenny were both very proud of their children and grandchildren and their accomplishments including high school graduations, various college degrees, marriages and careers. Wayne and his wife, Julie, had two wonderful boys, Wilfred John and Carl Alexander. “Grandma and Grandpa” enjoyed watching these two boys grow up and followed their activities through many trips to visit, phone calls, pictures and letters.
Beatta spent many precious years caring for her mother, Opal Gaffin, making sure mother would be comfortable and well taken care of in her long life of 105 years. Many afternoons were spent playing King’s Corners and drinking green tea.
Beatta and Kenny joined Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake May 20, 1984. Beatta was very active in church. She served as a Deacon, a member of Circle and Presbyterian Women, and taught youth club. She also delivered meals on wheels, served as maintenance chair and was on the Alpha Core Committee.
Following Kenny’s retirement, Beatta and Kenny bought their dream home at 1511 Shoreway Road in Storm Lake, in 1988. This was a time to entertain family and friends.Many cups of coffee, drinks, card games, cookies and cakes or delicious meals were shared around the kitchen table. Beatta and Kenny were always happy to have Ann and Tony visit and sometimes their dog, Maggie, would come along.It was always very special when Wayne and his family would visit grandma and grandpa in Storm Lake, and sometimes bring their dog, Brownie.Due to Kenny’s health, Beatta and Kenny sold their home on Shoreway Road in February 2015 and purchased a condo at Oakwood Place in Storm Lake, and lived there until they both fell in the garage and for health reasons had to move to Methodist Manor on Feb. 23, 2018.
Kenny passed away at Methodist Manor on May 20, 2018. In the fall of 2018, Beatta moved into her “million-dollar home on the lake,” the beautiful Methodist Manor. She lived out her life there with a daily view of the lake she loved, constant care and all the conveniences of home.
On May 7, 2024, Beatta was so proud and thrilled to be able to see pictures of her first great-grand baby, Opal Marie Edwards. Opal Marie was born in Reno, Nev. Her parents are Wilfred and Sarah Edwards.
Those left to cherish her memory include her two children and their spouses: Wayne (Julie) Edwards of Reno, Nev.; Ann (Tony) Russell of Erie, Ill.; her two grandchildren: Wilfred (Sarah) Edwards of Reno, Nev.; and Carl (Marie Smith) Edwards of San Francisco, Calif.; great-granddaughter Opal Marie Edwards; and many nieces, nephews, classmates, former students, friends and neighbors.
Beatta was preceded in death by husband Kenny Edwards; her mother and stepfather, Opal and Charles Gaffin; brother and sister-in-law Darwin (Alberta) Evans; sister Leone Erickson; her father-in-law and mother-in law, John and Margaret Edwards; brothers-in law and sisters-in-law, Norman (Janina) Edwards and Francis (Myrna) Edwards; nephew Joe Erickson; aunts and uncles; and many classmates, former students, friends and neighbors.
