Beverly Tuma

1959 - 2025

Shakopee - Beverly Jean Tuma (nee Childs) was born on January 16, 1959, at Northfield Hospital. She was the third child of Ray and Marjorie Childs, who farmed south of town. Bev died at Park-Nicollet Methodist Hospital on Friday, March 7, 2025, following a massive stroke. Bev took great delight in her family and friends throughout her life. A bout with rheumatic fever as a young child confined her to the house. Rather than whine and complain, she instead enlisted family and friends to play cards and table games with her. She treasured her connections with these people and became quite a card shark! She was a proud graduate of Northfield High School (class of 1977), active in the band and choir. She eagerly volunteered as a candy-striper at Northfield Hospital, which helped solidify her interest in the field of medicine and after high school graduation, she became a nurse-the only thing she ever really wanted to be-earning her LPN license in 1985, then continuing her education and achieving an AA degree in healthcare administration and a BS in psychology. She remained a nurse until her retirement in 2021, choosing to focus on geriatrics, she worked at several facilities in Northfield and the twin cities. As her parents aged, Bev put her nursing skills to work on their behalf and cared for them in their twilight years.

Bev loved the outdoors, especially Minnesota, and often said she'd never live anywhere else. She never did. She loved snow and delighted in its many configurations. As the youngest child, she spent many happy hours with her parents, going on camping trips in the western US and in northern Minnesota, and she developed a true love of the North Shore of Lake Superior. She was married to Duane (Dewey) Tuma until his death in 1993. Together, they hosted a foreign exchange student-Victor Dominguez -- and they delighted in his many achievements. They also enjoyed sharing their home state with him, and visited the lumberjack camps of northern Minnesota, as well as more local spots. Later on, Bev was able to visit Victor and his family in Spain and she enjoyed learning more about that country and its traditions.

Ever the care-giver, Bev loved kids and enjoyed watching them discover new things. She was "Auntie Bev" to Tara and Pat Tuma. She became a mother to Helix and Klesia Ikuenobe-Tuma, and a Grand-Aunt to Milton and Alice. And she delighted in their progress, enjoying the stories and pictures of their accomplishments. She loved animals as well as people and was known to rescue and nurture many animals. While she lived in Burnsville, she fed and cared for a number of stray cats. She even spent several hours trying to humanely rescue an escaped hamster that had squeezed its way into the metal structure of her washing machine (there was a happy ending for the hamster)! Two years ago, she adopted a rescue dog, Alicia May, and she adored her antics. Bev and Dan Peterson, her long-term companion, lived in Shakopee and spent many hours in setting up and perfecting the house for their needs, and for Alicia May.

Bev is survived by her best friend, Dan Peterson of Shakopee; sisters, Sharyn (Philip) Mathews of Storrs, Connecticut, and Christine (Richard) Bradford of Ramsey, Minnesota; her children, Helix and Klesia Ikuenobe-Tuma, of Spain; and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two stillborn sons (Bobby and Noah); parents, Marjorie and Ray Childs; husband, Duane Tuma; in-laws, Grace and Jim Tuma; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

A celebration of Bev's life will be held later this spring and burial will be at the convenience of the family.

www.northfieldfuneral.com