Obituary of Beverly Elaine Boggs

“Bev,” Beverly Elaine Boggs was born the youngest of three daughters to Fay (Faith) and Gilbert Hanchett at home with two aunts attending on September 19, 1928 in Viroqua, Wisconsin.

Early in life, Bev read by candlelight. Bev met her future mother-in-law, librarian Margaret, at the local library.  Bev would go to the library on Fridays from high school, and carry the treasured books walking 4.5 miles home. She read as many books as she could carry.  Bev and husband Glenn shared a life-long delight in books and read voraciously. When Bev’s children were young, she championed and promoted rural children’s access to the Bay City Public library system. 

Bev wore many hats during her 94 years and 11 months. She was a hard-working daughter during the depression years, working with her parents in the tobacco fields and caring for neighbors’ children.  She was a faithful and beloved wife of almost 66 years to Glenn Upham Boggs, whom she cared for in his 14 years of Parkinson’s before his death in 2017.   The younger sister of Dee Vogt and Violet Edith LePage, she sang duets with Dee in their youth for churches and community events. The songs and hymns were deeply planted in her heart for her final years.  As a young nurse aid during high school and the war years, she helped deliver her first baby with the local sheriff when the night nurse could not arrive to the house that served as the hospital.  

The hat that gave Bev the greatest joys in the last four decades of her life was “Nana” to her five grandchildren and their spouses: Alden, Adam and Erin Kennedy (Chris Wisecarver) and Christopher (Erin) and Stephanie Boggs.  The past three years she donned the title of “Great Nana” for Benjamin (3) and Nora (17 mo.) Boggs.

Bev and husband Glenn emphasized education for their three children and worked hard to provide for their educations:  Doctor in counseling, Debra Aho (husband, Brian), nurse anesthetist, Meredith Kennedy, (husband, Alan) and Steven, CPA and managing partner (Joann).  All five of her grandchildren completed college.  

Bev taught 1st - 8th grade in two one room schools in western Wisconsin and in 1966 returned to school to fulfill a dream of caring medically for children.  She loved working nights at General and Mercy hospitals in Bay City, comforting children in her care when parents were not there to rock them, wipe away a tear, tell a funny story, and attend to their needs.  Bev enjoyed serving on PTA, vacation Bible school, scout leader, and attending her children’s and grandchildren’s music and sport events. 

Bev was known for her angel food cakes that she made for family and friends’ anniversaries, birthdays and church functions.  With a twinkle in her deep, dark brown eyes, she would say, “It’s angels’ food not devils’ food.”  She made well over a thousand, and even 40 for a friend’s anniversary celebration.  She also loved baking for son Steve’s Midland High football buddies as they would retreat from their practices to her family room for baked treats and milk, and even naps, stretching out on the family room floor.

Sharing her love for books, in retirement Bev served as a volunteer at the Midland library.  Her sisters, children, patients and students knew her as a storyteller. Not until later in life, did she put pen to paper, writing stories for her grandchildren featuring the family beagle.  In this past year she also wrote a storybook for her great grandchildren about the critters who visited her backyard and with each story sharing simple life lessons.  With her granddaughter Stephanie she captured some of her life memories for her family.

A month after her husband’s death in 2017 their home of 45 years was flooded twice. Amazingly Bev’s resilience, perseverance and positive attitudes allowed her to endure the loss of Glenn and many of their possessions, as she patiently restored her home with the help of her children.

Bev kept her mind sharp with daily crossword puzzles, her favorite game shows and always more than one book she was reading.  As her arthritis increased, she colored her favorite Bible verses and colored thank you cards for family & friends to keep her fingers nimble. 

After significant health events in June of 2000 her doctors predicted Bev would not survive beyond August. The doctors did not designate a year!  Twenty-three years later, she died on August 20, 2023.  She and her family were grateful for those twenty-three years. Everyday she thanked God for a new day, and shared the words, “Have a good, good day!”

With sufferings and heartaches she grew closer to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and treasured visits from her pastor, church friends and family.  In her later years her mobility limited church attendance, but she was content to simply pray for others and her family.  She continued her life patterns of generosity, learned from her parents.  Bev loved to give to others and all of her children learned the joys of giving by helping fill Christmas cookie jars for their teachers, meals for sick neighbors or to greet a new baby, and participating in church projects as a family.

Bev was proud of her home and managed it alone as a widow.  She cherished life and looked forward to her reunion with her husband, her birth family & friends who preceded her in death.  Bev will be buried in a shared plot next to her husband in West Salem, Wisconsin in a family service this Fall.  The family requests in lieu of flowers, to designate memorial gifts to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI.  To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com  Arrangements made with the Cremation Society of Mid Michigan.

 

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