Beverly Lou Gilbeck

Beverly Lou Komperud-Gilbeck was born on November 27, 1936, to Birdella Salzwedel-Komperud and Elmer Komperud. Beverly graduated in Galesville, WI, in 1955. Her Home Economics teacher noticed her talents, thus encouraging her to attend UW-Stout. She graduated with a Home Economics degree along with a minor in dress design.

Bev met her husband at the Avalon in La Crosse. Virgil and Beverly were united in marriage at Zion Lutheran Church in Galesville on July 11, 1959. Together, they built a farm and a family. When asked about her profession, she would say “farmer.” Yes, she loved driving the John Deere tractors for baling hay or for getting silage to the silo, but she had so many more jobs in the home and community. In the home she designed and Virgil built, Beverly would cook the most delicious meals, preserve all the food the family would need for the winter, and sew the most beautiful curtains, blankets, and clothes. In the community, she was the “Uber” driver for all the ladies who didn’t know how to drive a car. She would make sure they got to Ladies Aid or Circle at Skogdalen Lutheran Church or to Portland Homemakers. In times of need, she was there for the people on West Portland Ridge. When a father suddenly passed away, she gave our supper to the family and helped the mother through this, the hardest of times. Bev also gave rides to neighbors who needed medical attention.

Bev was very active in her church, Skogdalen. She served as president of the Ladies Aid, sewed banners, taught Sunday School for many years, helped with Luther League, sang in the choir, grew the potatoes and carrots for the mission meal, made lefse and baked goods for the bazaar. One of her favorite memories of Skogdalen was helping to carry water from the spring to the hall. This is probably a favorite for most people who attended Skogdalen.

Beverly taught Home Economics the year after she moved to Cashton. She also worked for three years at Norseland Nursing Home as a cook. The residents loved all the Norwegian food she’d make for them.

The job she loved the most was sewing for people. Many smiles went down our road as pants were hemmed, prom dresses were now the proper length, beautiful Bunads would grace Syttende Mai in Westby, award-winning dolls dressed in a Bunad, and wedding dresses made ladies into princesses for their big day.

Beverly was an instructor for the La Crosse Embroiders Guild. Her excellence showed in her design of the Norskedalen Bunad’s embroidery pattern of Wisconsin’s native flowers.

Being in nature was Bev’s favorite place to be! She loved fishing, deer hunting, morel hunting, and ginseng hunting. She used her money from being a social worker for Monroe County to purchase a Rupp and a Polaris snowmobile. Arctic Cats were to follow, so the whole family could go out on the trails. Bev loved horses, so each family member had their own horse. There were trail rides and showing horses at the Western Saddle Club near Melvina. The family even rode the horses to Westby for the Syttende Mai parade. Harvesting seven acres of tobacco was made even more fun when Bev showed up with her “tobacco hotdish” and apple pies. Hatfield was so special because her family went there when she was young to roller-skate. Coincidentally, the family still goes there. Beverly and Virgil loved their trips out west and to the southwest to visit the National Parks. Their favorite Wisconsin spot was Door County. They traveled to Hawaii as Virgil was a top salesman for Jaques Seed Corn, but the biggest adventure was planned on their honeymoon. It was a trip to Alaska when the years of milking cows were done. So with a new pickup and camper and a ton of dried garden produce, they drove from the farm in Portland, WI, all the way to Alaska, leaving the care of the farm to their adult children. They actually came home and had the time of their lives!

Beverly will be missed by her four children, Greg Gilbeck, Anna Gilbeck-Moilien (Marc), Bruce Gilbeck, and Scott Gilbeck (Kayla). Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren will miss her, too: Joe, Brianna, Mary, Nora and Isaac; Andrew, Sarah and Aksel; Seonah and Marco; Tyler, Bethany, and James; Karlie and Drew; Brandon and Kelly; Ashley and Louis.

Beverly is preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Gilbeck; brother Ernie Komperud; and sister, Belinda Taylor.

There will be a private burial.

The family wishes to thank all the caregivers at Norseland Nursing Home who so lovingly cared for our mother. We are so grateful to St. Croix Hospice for all the love and care they shared with our mom. Also, a big thank you to all who visited her, called to talk with her, and for your prayers. Mom said, “It meant more than you will know.”

Bev’s advice to all is “Go live your lives - travel while you can.” Beverly’s final wish comes straight from her faith in our Lord and God’s greatest commandment, “Love each other.”

Thanks be to God for the life of Beverly Lou Komperud-Gilbeck.