Beulah May Ekberg

Beulah May Ekberg left this life for her heavenly home on the day after her 89th birthday, December 6, 2011.  Born December 5, 1922 in Vernon, Colorado to William and Frieda (Schildmeier) Brueggeman, Beulah was a beautiful person who loved children and the Lord.  Baptized as an infant on December 23, 1922, she grew in her faith to be confirmed at the age of 14 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Vernon.  She attended the St. John’s Lutheran Parochial School in Vernon and graduated from Vernon High School in 1940 and then continued on to obtain her teaching certificate from Colorado State Teachers College.  Beulah returned to college and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado State College in 1967.  Her teaching career took her to Eckley, Grand Lake, Armel and eventually Idalia.  She taught for 22 years in the East Yuma County School District RJ-2 beginning in 1962.  As a kindergarten and 1st grade teacher, she especially enjoyed teaching reading and social studies.

Beulah and Harry Ekberg were married November 15, 1944 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Vernon.  While Harry was in the Navy, they lived in San Francisco, California and St. Louis, Missouri before settling on his grandfather’s farm one mile north of Beecher Island where they lived throughout their married life.  They were blessed with four daughters, Marilyn, Linda, and twins Carol and Betty, who were born on their fourth wedding anniversary.

As a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Wray, Beulah was active in Miriam Guild, shared God’s love with others through teaching Bible studies, Sunday School and Bible School, and helped with a multitude of church dinners and activities.  She held offices in the Beecher Island Helping Hand Club and especially enjoyed quilting at Club.  In addition to being an accomplished seamstress and quilter, she was an avid bird watcher and hosted birders on the family farm. She wrote the Beecher Island News for the Wray Gazette for many years. She shared her love of reading and promoted the bookmobile that came to Beecher in the summers while serving on the Northeast Colorado Regional Library Board.  As a 4-H leader, she shared many of her life skills, sponsored 4-H trips, and was so proud of every child’s completed project and record book.  She supported her husband in farming, the Beecher community and in his leadership role for Farm Bureau and the Lions Club.  Her other interests included baseball and politics.  Beulah and Harry enjoyed traveling across 48 states visiting family and historical sights.  For many years, Saturday nights would find them square dancing and especially enjoyed square dancing in Hawaii.

Her beloved husband, Harry, of 67 years survives.  She is also survived by her four daughters, Marilyn Bruffett of Commerce City, Linda (Ed) Ingo of Ridgway, Carol (Glenn) Chapman and Betty (Thane) Greene of Wray; her grandchildren, Cory (Lorena) Jeurink of Wray, Dr. Tobi Jeurink of Mission, KS, Melanie Hall (Toby) of Olathe, Andrea Ingo of Montrose; great grandchildren, Garrett, Griffin and Gavin Hall, and Ethan, Emily and Ellie Jeurink, and Glenn and Carol’s children, Kathy, Stephanie, Tracy, Glenn Jr., and Dan.

Her surviving cousins are Harley ( Peggy) Witte, Wilma, Dale, and Leroy (Closanne) Brueggeman, Everett Wiltfang, Carol Weatherby, Gary, Todd, Mike and Joyce Schildmeier, Lelonie Butz and Connie Schildmeier, Sophie Harpal, Vertie May Fisher, Dorothy Brueggeman, Cleora Fix, June Jensen, and Shirley Witte and many second cousins.

She is survived by Alfred and Rhoda Renzelman of Haxtun and Nelson and Jacque Ekberg of Wray.

Also her treasured nieces and nephews: Eric Brueggeman of Greeley, Don Brueggeman of Fort Lupton, Jenean (Dennis) Hovel of Delta, Chris (Rebecca) Renzelman of Renton, WA, Lynette (Ken) Harms, of Paoli, Bill (Ronda) Renzelman of Loveland, Kathy (Mike) Pollard of Thompson Station, TN, Connie Ekberg of Colorado Springs, Karen (John) Willard and Laurie (Kris) Jones of Wray, and Lisa Ekberg of Chicago, IL..

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Frieda Brueggeman, her brother, Donald, aka Jack, and his wife Paulene, and nephews, Billy and Alan Brueggeman.

Services were held at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Wray on December 10, 2011 with Pastor Timothy Davis officiating.

Memorial contributions in Beulah’s memory may be made to Calvary Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 518 Dexter, Wray, CO 80758 or Beecher Island Helping Hand Club, c/o Marla Rock, 27495 US Hwy 385, Wray, CO 80758.  Spellman–Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.