Beulah Mae Beard Lewis

August 24, 1917 - March 24, 2013

Beulah Mae (Beard) Lewis, 95, of Sioux City, IA formerly of Walthill, NE, passed away Sunday, March 24, 2013, at Touchstone Living Center in Sioux City, IA. Funeral services for Beulah will be held Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Walthill, NE, with Pastor Steven Breazier officiating. Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 27, from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM with the family present from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Walthill. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Walthill, NE. Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church in Walthill, NE.

Beulah was born August 24, 1917, in Burt County, Nebraska, the oldest of seven children, to John and Jennie (Walker) Beard.  She graduated from Decatur High School in 1935, where as a student served occasionally as a substitute teacher, which is where she realized she wanted to pursue a teaching career. Beulah attended Dana College and Wayne State College ultimately receiving her degree from Dana College. While at Dana College she lettered in girls' basketball.

Beulah was united in marriage to Howard L. Lewis on December 25, 1940, in Tekamah, NE. In 1941, they moved to a farm near Walthill, NE, where they farmed and raised livestock. They had three children, Sharon Ann, Howard John and Mark Leslie.

After receiving her teaching certificate she taught school in rural schools in Burt and Thurston Counties for ten years.  She then had a variety of jobs. She was a reporter and proof reader for the local newspaper, worked in cafes and grocery stores and then purchased a cafe where she had a great business with her home cooking and wonderful baking.

Beulah ultimately returned to teaching and taught at Macy Public School for 32 years retiring when she was almost 70 years of age. She loved each and every child she taught.

Beulah was a 60 year member of the Walthill Methodist Church and was active in both the Methodist Church and RLDS Church women's groups and Summer Bible Schools. She was also a 4-H Club Leader.

After her husband died she moved to Northern Hills Retirement Community where she served on the Welcoming Committee and made great friendships with the residents and caring staff. She received wonderful care the last four weeks at Touchstone Living Center.

Beulah is survived by a daughter, Sharon and her husband Glenn Krueger of Sioux City, IA, son, Howard John and his wife Sandi Lewis of Omaha, NE; grandsons Chad and Amy McCormick and their children Garenn, Patison and Howie, Tim McCormick and his son Brady, Pastor Howard John, Jr., and his wife Jill Lewis and their children Mark, Trinity and Grace, James Lewis and his son Tray; granddaughter, Kristy and her husband Allen Odle and their children Kasey, Nikole, Amanda and Kyla; sisters, Betty Witthuhn, Doris and her husband Don Worley; sisters-in-law, Mary Beard and Elnora Karmann, and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Howard, son, Mark, grandchildren, Matthew and Joseph; one great-grandchild, Randy; her parents; sister, Saranne and her husband Robert Baker; brothers, Johnie M. Beard, Charles Beard, and Lewis and his wife Dona Beard, Dorman and his wife Hooley Lewis, and William and his wife Florence Fleenor; brothers-in-law, William Witthuhn and Tom Karmann.