Beverly Geist

Beverly J. Geist, 95, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Thursday, December 1, 2022, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor, Aberdeen.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Aberdeen.

Burial will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, at the mortuary with a liturgical wake at 7 p.m.  Visitation continues one hour before Mass at the church.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign the online guestbook and also view the service at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Beverly Jane (Coyle) Johnson-Geist was born at home in James, SD, on June 2, 1927, to Ralph William Coyle of Silverleaf, ND, and Freda Emma (Herr) Coyle of Lily, SD.

Beginning at age nine, she lived in Watertown, SD, helping to care for her grandfather, Thomas Coyle, with her aunt Kate. At age 14, she was able to return home to her family, when they moved to Watertown and her baby brother Bobby was born. She attended high school in Watertown, graduating in 1945. In addition to helping care for her grandfather, during those early years, she worked in the potato fields, a creamery, and an egg sorting plant for the war effort. After high school, she worked for some time at the Watertown public opinion newspaper.

Beverly met Harold at a favorite hang-out, roller-skating at Stoney Point in Kampeska. They were married on February 7, 1948, in Watertown where their first son David was born in October 1949. When her brother Roger was killed in the Korean conflict in January 1951, that loss had a tremendous effect on the whole family. That and the job market after World War II brought them to Aberdeen. There, Kitty was born in May 1951, Peggy in December 1952, Larry Roger in November 1955, and James Dean in August 1957. Although there was a brief move to Canby, MN, they made their home in Aberdeen.

While raising their family, she helped “Rob” (Harold) build four homes throughout the city, often living in them while still under construction. In addition, she did retail work at Woolworths 5 & 10, S.L. Shoe Store, and many years at Jones and Northside Drug Stores. When her children attended school at Roncalli, she worked as a cook!

Bev was active in her church, served as an officer for the FOP, and when she took up golf, she served as an officer for the Ladies Golf League at Lee Park.

After loving and caring for Rob for many years, she was widowed in 1992 at the age of 65. Bev faced the next stage of her life with strength and faith. After going dancing with her good friend Hilde, she met G.G. (Gottlieb) Geist. They were married on November 18, 1996. With him, she gained two loving stepsons, Greg and Dean. This marriage brought new friends and new adventures. They enjoyed many bus trips together. After 21 years together, G.G. passed away in November 2017.

During that time, her family continue to grow – and so did the love! Her favorite times were spent with her five children, and her stepsons and their families. She has 14 grandchildren and their spouses, four step-grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, three step-great-grandchildren, and so many loving nieces and nephews.

Bev was a favorite in her community apartment and a beloved patient and resident in her two short stays at Mother Joseph Manor. Anyone who met Bev was immediately struck by her smile, her outgoing personality, her humor, her gentle spirit, and her never-ending faith. Despite the pain in her life, she maintained that attitude and held onto that faith even in her final moments.

Blessed and grateful to have shared her life are her children: David (Kathleen) Johnson of Blaine, MN, Kitty (John) Walker of Rapid City, SD, Peggy (Tom) Eilers of Aberdeen, SD, Larry (Janene) Johnson of Rapid City, SD, and Jim (Linda) Johnson of Buena Vista, Colorado; stepsons: Dean (Rena) Geist of Casper, WY, and Greg (Sherri) Geist of Eugene, OR; brother, Bob (Marilyn) Coyle of Aberdeen, SD; and sister-in-law (sister of the heart), Evonne Johnson of Harrisburg, SD.

Beverly was preceded in death by her parents; siblings: Roger, Bert, and Dorothy; husbands Harold “Rob” Johnson and Gottlieb Geist; and one grandson.