Beverly “Bev” J. Middleton, 86, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, died on February 7, 2019 at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg.  “Death took her body, but God took her soul.”

Bev was born on December 2, 1932 on the family farm near Home, Michigan, the daughter of Murl & Helen (Roepke) Swayze.  The family moved to Chicago when she was 3 years old; then they moved to Montana where she started elementary school.  They then moved to Wisconsin for a couple of years before moving to Stillwater, Minnesota.  Bev graduated from Stillwater High in 1953.  A year later, she married and to this union four children were born: Sandy, Bryan, Randy and Joy.  The marriage later ended in divorce.  While living in Minnesota, she worked for St. John’s Hospital as a private nurse before moving to Nebraska.  In 1973, she married Sumner Middleton, the love of her life.

She enjoyed cooking and baking, and then sharing these gifts with family and friends.  She also had a large garden which she gave away or canned.  Sumner and Bev built a home at Jeffery Lake soon after they were married and they lived there for the next 23 years.  After his passing, she continued to live there for a few years until moving to Gothenburg.

Bev was a member of the “Red Hats” and was a Calendar Girl with the Brady Beauties.  She enjoyed reading and was a member of the Library.  She loved helping people whenever she could.  She taught preschool Sunday School Classes at Church for many years.  She was a member of the Extension Club.  She spent many hours crocheting and made a crib size blanket for each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Bev was known for her sense of humor and the great love she had for her family.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Sumner, her parents, daughter Joy Kuhlman, son Randy Haugen, step-son, Dave Middleton, and brother, Gene.

Survivors include her family Sandy (Tom) Burnett, Bryan (Tracy) Haugen, Deb Middleton, Steve (Kathreine) Middleton, Cathy Russo; grandchildren Bob (Peggy) Bailey, Brenda Bailey, Tara Reinheart, Danielle Haugen, Matthew Haugen, Josh Haugen, Nick Sitorius, Jake Sitorius, Sonie Kuhlman, Ellie (Rob) Krysl, Ben (Amy) Middleton, Sam Middleton, mary (Blake) Streeter, Will Middleton, and Alysha Haugen; great-grandchildren Hanna, Loren, MaKinsey, Teagan, Trenton, Bailey, Dakotah, Summer, Ryder Haugen; Aspen, Jadyn, Nathan, Quinton, Kaitlyn, Natalie Sitorius; Miles, Maggie Streeter, and Leo Middleton; and her devoted dog, Princess.

Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg, Nebraska on Thursday, February 14, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.  Funeral services will be held at Blase-Stauser Memorial Chapel, 620 Tenth Street, Gothenburg, Nebraska on Friday, February 15, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.  Inurnment will be at a later date in the Peckham Cemetery in Gothenburg.

Memorials may be given to the Brady United Methodist Church, 301 N. Market Street, Brady, Nebraska 69123 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis, TN  38148.