Beverly I. Luehmann

Beverly Irene “Blakeslee” Luehmann passed away peacefully on July 11, 2024 in her house in the woods at the age of 91. She is fondly remembered by her immediate family, relatives, friends and neighbors who treasured their time spent with her.

If you knew Bev, you’d know she was super organized and always had lists. Before she passed she let her children know about her favorite lifetime lists, documenting all her cherished memories. These lists made for a wonderful outline when writing her obituary.

In her childhood, Bev and her family lived in many MN towns: Long Prairie, Albert Lea, Duluth, and Forest Lake, as her father worked as an extension agent in several counties. She was born in Wadena, MN and graduated from high school at Duluth East in Duluth MN. She attended the University of MN, receiving a BS degree in home economics, where she started her lifelong loyalty to the MN Gophers - “Ski-U-Mah!” After college, Bev’s next chapter was becoming an extension home agent in Winona County for two years. She would settle down in Lewiston, MN, the “heart of Winona County,” for the rest of her life and meet her future husband, Robert Luehmann, a crop and dairy farmer.

Growing up, she treasured time with her two sisters, Nancy and Marilyn. Whether they were ice skating, tobogganing, arranging and delivering spring flowers for May Day baskets, or making delicious homemade ice cream, everything was done together. She was active in 4-H, where she was frequently crowned the fashion revue queen, sewing with such talent. She also enjoyed showing sheep and dairy and excelled in showmanship. Beverly loved being outside and always considered herself a country girl or cowgirl at heart.

Bev and Bob were married on September 1st, 1957. Beverly wrote that besides her faith, her five children were the true joys of her life. She was so proud of not only her own children, but also her sons and daughter-in-laws, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Once she started her own family, some of her favorite memories were sitting around the campfire with her family, camping “up north”, hearing and seeing her favorite bird, the loon, and planning for picnics. Bev loved trees, proudly researching and planting a tree nearly every year. Every summer, she loved attending the Blakeslee Family Picnic and sleeping under the stars at the home farm at Mystery Caves in Spring Valley, MN. Bev adored the Winona County Fair. Even in her later years, she would spend a full day going through the buildings and watching the dairy show. While her own children were in 4-H, she was an excellent 4-H adult leader. She supported her children with their 4-H projects, both in the 4-H building and the livestock dairy barn, where she loved sitting and visiting with fair friends. She was honored to be in the fair hall of fame, having a day in her honor, and additionally, one year both her and Bob were also named King and Queen of the Fair. For many years, Beverly was a judge for both her own county and other southeastern MN county fairs, judging sewing/clothing and all food categories in open class and 4-H.

But to Bev, a summer of county fairs was not complete without the grand finale, “The Great MN Get Together”, for which she had her own tradition. On the night before the first day of the State Fair, she would always attend the Princess Kay of the Milky Way coronation at the band shell, and the entire following day was spent at the fair shopping, eating, and soaking up everything Minnesota.

Bev had many special traditions raising her children. Every other fall, after making numerous baked goods, she would take her children with her to the U of MN Clovia Bazaar, a fundraiser for her beloved sorority, Beta of Clovia. She enjoyed this day immensely, meeting and catching up with all of her college friends. Every winter would include sliding down the pasture hills and ice skating on the pond. Bev loved skiing all throughout her life. Later on, she would cross country ski from her house in the woods to the farm and back. Once back home she always fed her song birds and enjoyed watching squirrels and other critters. Also in the winter, usually over the holidays, she and her family would put together her iconic state of MN puzzle.

Her home economics background was instrumental in her exquisite cooking and baking. According to her family, their favorites would be breads: buns, poppyseed, cinnamon/caramel rolls, and twist’ems. Every holiday, be it Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Christmas, or even her grandchildren’s wedding day, she would make her famous rolled cut out frosted cookies. These cookies would be sent home by the dozens for all her family to enjoy. Pie making was another specialty, actually, anything and everything was always created from scratch! Every one of her children and grandchildren had their favorite recipe, which she always took joy in making each time they visited. In the near future, her family will make a recipe book in her memory with all their favorite recipes she’d make. Her cooking extended to other children by being a cook at Immanuel Lutheran School, Silo. At Silo, she enjoyed being part of her Ladies Aid group, active in the Altar Guild, LWML, Silo Serenaders Kitchen Band and the Quilting Group. She made beautiful, lifelong friendships at Silo. Another volunteer community contribution both Bev and Bob did, was delivering Meals On Wheels for many years.

Beverly was proud of her many names that were given to her by those she loved. Besides the traditional “Grandma”, there were others such as: Granny, YaYa, Grandma with the Best Buns, Granny Milk Fart, Best Birthday Pie Maker, and Patcher Grandma (as she’d mend any clothing in need), and also, simply, Grandma Bev by so many daycare children she’d help watch. Her grandchildren were always proud when she’d show up at sporting events, music and theatre productions and other events, and she was always looked upon as the “cool grandma” by their friends. This made her deeply proud. Bev seemed to have an internal compass/GPS of all of her grandchildren’s whereabouts and life activities, and she loved staying up to date and involved with everything going on.

Bev found beauty in many things. Early morning, just before the sun came up was her favorite time of day; she’d call it her twilight hour. Every day at that hour, she would no doubt be planning her day or adding to her lists. She loved the simple smells of nature: the smell of a campfire, the breeze going through pine trees, rainstorms, the scent of numerous blossoms. She loved the smell of fresh laundry drying outside, and inside her house, she loved the smell of yeast bread baking, coffee brewing and even onions frying. She was thankful for all of these simple, yet ever present smells. She always had a pitcher of freshly brewed, unsweetened iced tea. With any downtime or alone time, she loved listening to her swing era “Big Band” songs. Her Charleston dance will always be a fond memory–even dancing it at her 90th birthday party! As mentioned earlier, she loved her MN Gophers, singing the MN Rouser with pride and attending numerous marching band concerts. She was a great athlete herself, and always watched sports–especially women’s volleyball, basketball and the MN Lynx.

Beverly is lovingly survived by her children: Becky (Marvin) Kreidermacher, Altura, MN; Brenda (Joel) Groskreutz, LaValle, WI; Blake (Jenifer) Luehmann, Lewiston, MN; Beth (Jim) Postier, Kasson, MN; Randy Gutzmann, son-in-law, Stillwater, MN; Grandchildren; Landon (Krista) Kreidermacher; Loren (Leah) Kreidermacher; Layton Kreidermacher; Brooke (Dave) Kraus; Ashley (Trent) McCool; Brieana (Corey) Huck; Amber (Hayes) Todd; Jill (Ben) Lundquist; Kayte Kreidermacher; Megan (Brian) Paulson; Sheldon (Karli) Luehmann; Andre Postier; Aubrey Postier; Anslee Postier; Great-Grandchildren; Avery and Levi Kreidermacher; Charlotte and Hudson Kraus; Knox McCool; Laken, Jolie and Blane Huck; Brayden and Kennedy Todd; Zachary and Matthew Lundquist; Jordyn, Clayton and Logyn Kreidermacher; Noah Paulson; Jolene Luehmann; Sisters; Nancy Schwartau, Red Wing, MN; Marilyn Lanning, Pretty Prairie, KS; Myrna Luehmann, sister-in-law, Dundas, MN; as well as many nieces, nephews and other relatives and close friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Luehmann; daughter, Barbara Luehmann-Gutzmann; parents, CL and Irene (Firman) Blakeslee. Brother-in-laws; Merle Schwartau; Alden Lanning; brother and sister-in-laws on Bob’s side.

Beverly’s family would like to thank both Pastor Bert Mueller and Pastor William Meilner for visiting and giving words of comfort and faith before she passed. Also, thank you to the caring staff of St.Croix Hospice who helped care for her in her home. Lastly, a special heartfelt thank you to Kayte Kreidermacher, Bev’s granddaughter, whose constant daily nursing care, comfort and love was evident in her grandmother’s transition from this earthly life to that of everlasting life. Every day she’d play her much loved call of the loons with the crackling of a campfire, putting her Grandma at peace. Bev’s family will continue to use her beloved phrase, “Goodbye for now…” whenever one is leaving or departing.

Beverly will be laid to rest at the Silo church cemetery. Visitation will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church - Silo, rural Lewiston, on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, from 4 PM until 8 PM, and again at the church on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, from 9:30 AM until the funeral service at 11 AM. The Reverend Rudy Maurer will officiate. Lunch to follow interment at the Silo gymnasium.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Bev’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.  Thank you to John Mulyck for working with Bev’s family during this time as funeral director.

Memorial may be directed to Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery Fund 22577 County Rd 25 Lewiston OR U of MN Beta Of Clovia Building Fund 2067 Carter Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108 (334) 432-6576.