Beverly Ann Hummel

Beverly A. Hummel of Detroit Lakes, MN passed away on Friday, September 19, 2025, under the care of HIA Hospice while surrounded by her husband, children and grandchildren.

Beverly Ann Butler was born on August 14, 1937, in Minot, ND to Clarence and Bernice Butler. The family lived in Plaza, ND at that time, but moved to Parshall, ND, where Beverly graduated from high school in 1955.

She attended Minot State University (then MSTC), where she studied and was trained to be an elementary school teacher. At Minot State, she played in the university marching band and met her future husband, Lynn Hummel. She continued her education over the years, earning additional credits at Great Falls College, Moorhead State University, and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

She moved to Great Falls, MT where she taught elementary children at the Whittier public elementary school for two years.

Beverly married Lynn Hummel in August 1959 and the couple moved to Minneapolis for Lynn to complete his legal education at the University of Minnesota Law School. While in Minneapolis, Beverly taught for two years at Centennial elementary school in Circle Pines, MN.

In 1961, the couple moved to Detroit Lakes when Lynn entered the practice of law with Lowell W. Benshoof and Beverly began teaching second grade at the public school in Callaway, MN. Beverly never forgot the names of her second graders and spoke of them and to them quite often. She loved those Callaway kids. At the time of her death, many of them had become grandparents.

Bev and Lynn had three children: Jane, Guy and Sally. While the children were growing up and being raised by their parents, Bev was active in Detroit Lakes doing volunteer work for the American Red Cross as a St. Mary’s Blood Bank caller and with the League of Women Voters, Damien Society and Jaycee Women. She was active socially in a book club and cooking club. She was an active member of the First Lutheran Circle, the church choir and enjoyed traveling with Lynn on church choir tours in Europe.

The family lived briefly in Boston, MA and Phoenix, AZ in 1969-1971 while on a fellowship leave of absence.

Bev was known for her memory of long past events, for her quick wit and dry sense of humor, for her love and empathy for children with special needs as well as her enthusiasm for celebrations: weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, family gatherings and opportunities for hospitality.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Mary Lou Lawrence, Lynn’s brother Gary and his wife Wanda, Lynn’s parents, Jake and Val Hummel, her sister in-law Phyllis Hummel, her nephews Scott Hummel and Christopher Staehling and her lifelong friend Marvel Wurtz Helgeson.

She is survived by her husband Lynn, her daughter Jane (Steve) Nelson, her son Guy (Lauren), her daughter Sally (Myron) Roe, her grandchildren: Ryan (Kendra Lystad), Tessa (Justin) Rose, Taylor Nelson, Christian Nelson, Brian Nelson, Sam Hummel, Olivia Hummel, Maya Roe, Eli Roe, Anya Roe, great-grandchildren, Fern and Mae and special grandchildren, Shonda Stevig Kencal (Eric) and Mortaza Ahmady.

A Visitation and Celebration of Life will be held at the West-Kjos Funeral Home on Thursday, October 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. The Visitation will continue at 10:00 a.m. with a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 24 at First Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to the Agape Fund at First Lutheran Church. The Agape Fund is an emergency program to assist brothers, sisters and strangers having difficulty meeting the demands of groceries, clothing, lodging, rent, medical bills, transportation, repairs or other family expenses.