At 93 years young, Beverly of Roseville recently shared a small slice of her interesting life.
Though she has called California home for many years and has enjoyed the Meals on Wheels program in Placer County for over a decade Beverly’s story begins in the rugged winters of North Dakota.
Growing up there meant enduring snowdrifts so tall they rose above the second story of her family’s home. In the harshest months, simply reaching the road required carving a path through the barn and around towering walls of snow. One memory stands out vividly from when she was just five or six years old. During a fierce blizzard, her father was in the barn milking cows, and the wind and snow were so intense that Beverly and her mother feared he wouldn’t be able to make it back to the house.
Her mother lit kerosene lamps and placed them in the window facing the barn, then stood waiting anxiously in the doorway. Meanwhile, her father prepared carefully, adding water to the milk pails for extra weight and layering on heavy clothing so he wouldn’t be blown off course by the wind. Weighed down against the storm, he made it safely home.
Today, Beverly enjoys the better weather in California and being close in proximity to her daughter. A longtime participant in Meals on Wheels, she looks forward not only to nutritious meals but also to friendly visits. “I just count on the person coming with the meal and talking with them,” she shares. Those few minutes spent asking, “How ya’ doing?” and exchanging news from around her mobile home park mean just as much as the food itself. Sometimes she’ll even pass along updates to neighbors through her delivery drive, a small but meaningful way to stay connected.
Beverly also keeps busy with her love of crafting. Recently, she made beaded bracelets for a workman in her mobile home park who has two young daughters, a simple gesture that reflects her generous spirit.
And here’s something that may surprise people: throughout her life, every time she and her husband moved, Beverly worked in a medical office. Her last position was in an oncology and hematology practice—an area of medicine many shy away from because outcomes aren’t always positive. But Beverly felt called to the challenge. That experience eventually led to an unexpected opportunity: working in an ambulance for a company supporting events at a local racetrack.
Not many would guess that this 93-year-old once worked in emergency response, but Beverly has always enjoyed a good challenge. From braving North Dakota blizzards to serving in the medical field, to offering friendly conversations, Beverly’s life has been filled with adventure and connection with people.
