Beverly Donaldson Stewart

Beverly June, the daughter of Glen and Pearl (Carroll) Woodford was born on June 5, 1933, at the family farm near Webb, Iowa. She graduated from Cornell High School in 1950 as valedictorian. Beverly completed one year at Buena Vista College in 1951, intending to be a teacher. She was married to Darrel Arthur Donaldson on June 10, 1951, at the Baptist Church in Webb.

After Darrel returned from his service overseas, they rented a small farm near Webb. As Beverly reflected in her writings, “My career became that of a farm wife, the most honorable I could have had in my eyes.” Beverly found that being a full-time farm wife and mother offered a wide variety of opportunities to learn and do other things. With the birth of three children, Alan, David, and Linda, in four years, not only did she maintain an active household, she also helped Darrel out by keeping detailed farm records. Beverly was a lifelong learner. She took classes at ILCC in accounting and office procedures. One of Beverly’s favorite memories was watching the three older kids welcome their baby sister, Janice, on a cold January day.

Beverly loved to sew and took classes through the Clay County Extension Service. She was an adept seamstress and sewed almost all the clothing for herself and her two daughters. In addition, she took evening classes in home nursing, first aid and CPR.

Whether it was teaching Sunday School classes, Vacation Bible School, youth group, or adult Bible studies, as well as being a Cub Scout den mother and 4-H leader, she enjoyed spending time with both children and adults. Beverly was a member of the Harmony Study Federated Club, the Webb Library Board and held many offices at the First Baptist Church in Webb and later at the First Christian in Spencer.

Beverly and Darrel experienced a difficult time during the farm crisis. They became active members of farm support and advocacy groups, even being interviewed twice in New York City on NBC’s Today Show. During that time, their circle of friends and acquaintances grew as they met and came to care for many people they would have otherwise never known.

Throughout her adult life, Beverly had many hobbies including gardening, baking, especially pie making, bird watching and fishing. Darrel and Beverly fulfilled one of their lifelong dreams by building a cabin on Garfield Lake in Minnesota. It was their happy place!

Following Darrel’s passing on October 25, 1998, Beverly continued to live on the farm where she still pursued many of her hobbies and accompanied family to the cabin. She attended writing classes and occasionally did some babysitting for family and friends.

On February 4, 2002, Beverly married Bob Stewart. They made their home at The Highlands in Spencer for 24 years. They enjoyed doing many activities together including following their favorite sports teams and playing dominoes with family and friends. Beverly loved putting puzzles together whether alone or with family. They visited relatives in Georgia and California, as well as spent many pleasant days at the cabin on Garfield Lake.

Beverly continued to live independently at The Highlands for over a year after her husband Bob moved to St. Luke’s. However, following a hospitalization, she moved to St. Luke’s on December 31, 2025. On the morning of June 27, 2026, Beverly entered her heavenly home where we are confident, she was greeted with the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Pearl Woodford; her in-laws, Floyd and Mayda Donaldson; her husbands, Darrel Donaldson and Bob Stewart; her son, David Donaldson; her brother, Harry and his wife Shirley Woodford; her sister, Carole and her husband Clarence Hammill; her in-laws, Sharon Woodford, Beverly Bovee, Blaine and Dorothea Donaldson, and Lee and Rhonda Pape.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Alan and Linda Donaldson of Orange City; Anita Donaldson of Spencer; Linda and Tim Gray of Everly; Janice Donaldson of Dickens; and close family friend Ellie Studer of Dickens; her brother, Roydal Woodford and brother-in-law Rodney Bovee; grandchildren: Carissa Donaldson, Shandra and Nick Van Berkum, Jantina and Nick Burke, Jennifer and Chris Kipfer, Isaiah and Whitney Gray, and Sam Gray; great-grandchildren: Evan Kenney, Benson Kipfer, Rosco Van Berkum, Greta Kipfer, Jericho Gray, Oliver Gray, Desmond Burke, Lachlan Gray; stepchildren: Robert and Suzan Stewart, Sidney and Steve Rasmussen, Tom and Cheri Stewart, and Mary Beth and George Richerson; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends.