Beverly Christensen

Beverly Christensen, 77, longtime Ogallala resident, died Friday, February 22, 2013, in the North Colo. Medical Center in Greeley, Colo. Beverly was born April 8, 1935, in Peoria, Ill., the daughter of John and Edna (Chrestenson) Schmutz. She grew up in Delavan, Ill. and attended school there. The family moved to Longmont, Colo. in 1948. Bev attended school and worked various jobs to help her family. She married Karl Christensen and the couple moved to Hardy, Ark. where Bev worked various jobs while Karl worked as a lineman. In 1953 the family moved to Ogallala and Bev was employed at Goodall Electric. In 1958 she began working for Montgomery Wards as a clerk and then was promoted to store manager. In 1976 Bev became the first female District Manager, overseeing 21 stores in four states. In 1979 the family moved to Sterling, Colo. and Bev managed the Montgomery Wards store. The family resided in Craig, Colo. from 1984 to 1986 when they moved to Denver. Bev retired from Wards in 1995 and returned to Ogallala in 1996. Bev was the first female president of the Ogallala Chamber of Commerce. She served on the Keith County Senior Center Board and was a founding parent of PAKS serving on the Board of Directors for numerous years. Her hobbies included reading, playing cards, and doing crossword puzzles. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Preceding her in death was her husband Karl, son Steve, an infant daughter, infant twin sons, granddaughter Angie Christensen, brother Jim Schmutz, and sisters Elaine Skaggs and Dorothy Drieth. Survivors include her children: Dwight (Maryal) Christensen of Lafayette, Colo.; Bill (Julie) Christensen of Aurora, Colo.; Marty (Melva) Christensen of Brighton,Colo.; and Sue (Randy) Peck of Julesburg, Colo. one brother Don (Judy) Schmutz of Huxley, Tex.; and two sisters: Mary Lou (Robert) Meis of Panama City, Fla. and Vivian Litterst of Mission Viejo, Cal. Also eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Tuesday, Febr. 26, from 1 to 7 p.m. at Draucker Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will be Wednesday, Febr. 27, at 11 a.m. in the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Chuck Rager officiating. Interment is in the Ogallala Cemetery. A memorial has been established in her name.

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