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Beverly Stone obituary

Beverly Long Stone died at her home in Fairbanks, Alaska on February 20, 2022. She graced the world with her presence for 92 years and will be remembered for her soft voice and her sharp mind and wit. Beverly was born at home in Grant County, Wis., to Hiram and Dorothy Long, on July 13, 1929. She completed the family, joining three older brothers. She graduated as valedictorian of Bloomington (Wis.) High School in 1946. The first in her family to go to college, she earned her degree in home economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1950.
    Soon after graduating, Beverly met the man who would become her bridge partner for life, when a mutual friend introduced her to Fred Stone. Their life together began facing each other across the card table, but their partnership would take them across the United States and around the world, an adventure spanning more than seven decades. Beverly and Fred married April 19, 1952, in Dewitt Iowa. Fred’s job as a chemical engineer took the couple to Wilmington, Del. and then to Charleston, W.Va., welcoming daughters Wendy and Sarah to their family during these years.  In 1959 the family relocated to West Concord, Minn., where Fred joined his father in running an agricultural supply business. Son Teddy joined the family soon after.
    Ever the planner and organizer, Beverly was active in local politics while her children were young. She was the county chairwoman of the Republican party. In 1966, she ran for Minnesota Secretary of State. In 1968, she served as an alternate to the Republican National Convention.
    In 1977, Fred and Beverly moved from West Concord to Lake City, Minn., where they renovated a Victorian home a few short blocks from the Mississippi on Lake Pepin. Beverly and Fred temporarily relocated to Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1984 to help their daughter build a house there and to be near grandchildren.  While in Fairbanks, Beverly began working at the National Bank of Alaska, the start of a her career in mortgage finance. They soon returned to Minnesota, where Beverly worked for Prudential Mortgage and later at their office in Frederick, Md.
    In 1994, Beverly and Fred retired to Naples, Florida. They returned to Lake City Minn. in 2006 and in 2015, the couple completed their migration north, settling in at Raven Landing in Fairbanks, Alaska, near their daughter Wendy, three of four grandchildren and their four great grandchildren.  
    Throughout her life, Beverly loved to travel and see the world. She and Fred visited friends in Brazil many times, traveled to Russia in 1979, and Beverly took a solo trip to China in the early 1980s. Beverly and Fred enjoyed many cruises together. They visited the Caribbean, Europe, and the Mediterranean, including a visit to Ephesus in Turkey. Fred remembers that Bev especially liked cruises specifically because “someone else always made the bed,” although Fred did the same for her every day at home.  
    Beverly was a dedicated volunteer for the Red Cross for fifteen years. She and Fred started serving in 1995, soon after retiring to Florida. Working as a disaster response volunteer took Beverly all over the country, including Kansas, Texas, North Carolina, California, and Puerto Rico. They responded to four or five calls each year, each a three-week assignment helping in the wake of hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, and other tragedies. Beverly and Fred activated in response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001, arriving to serve while smoke still rose from Lower Manhattan. Beverly’s calm demeanor, organizational skills, and financial acumen meant that she was well suited to her work handling record keeping and reports for disaster response operations.
    Other than bridge and travel, Beverly enjoyed staying active in her retirement. She golfed during the Florida summers, when the greens fees were cheaper. She also took up bowling, first with a large group of friends in Florida and then later taking up Wii Bowling at Raven Landing. Walking was another favorite hobby, whether on the beaches of Florida, the banks of the Mississippi, or the halls of Raven Landing, occasionally pushing great grandchildren along for the ride on her walker.
    Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, Hiram and Dorothy, her daughter Sarah and her son Teddy, and her brothers Gale, Keith, and Ardell. She is survived by her husband Fred; her daughter Wendy Anderson (Dan); grandchildren Benjamin Prax (Natasha), Leanna Prax Williams (Tyler), David Stanton (Samantha), and Emily Anderson (Michael Levison); and great grandchildren Charlotte and Nicholas Prax, and Cyrus and Jasper Williams.
    A private service is planned at Raven Landing, with graveside services to be held in Concord, Minn., at a later date. The family would like to thank Raven Landing and Foundation Health Partners Hospice Services for their help during this difficult time. Memorial donations may be made to FHP Hospice Services through the Fairbanks Hospital Foundation.  
    Online condolences may be made to the family at Blanchardfamilyfuneralhome.com
 

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ISSN 2994-1059 (print)  ISSN 2994-1067 (online)