Beverly Shay Nilles

1929 - 2025

Beverly Shay Nilles

November 7, 1929 - December 1, 2025

Beverly Shay Nilles, 96, of Le Mars, Iowa, died on Monday, December 1, 2025, at Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at All Saints Catholic Parish – St. James Church in Le Mars. Father Doug Klein will celebrate Mass. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa. Visitation with the family present will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, December 8, 2025, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. There will be a Parish Rosary at 3:45 p.m. and a Scriptural Prayer Service at 5:30 p.m. Visitation will resume from 9:30 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday at the church. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

Memorials can be made in Beverly's name, in care of the family, to the Carmelites Monastery in Sioux City, Iowa, and the Carmelites Monastery in St. Louis, Mo.

Beverly Ann Brown, the daughter of Leonard and Mabel 'Ruth' (Holmes) Brown, was born on November 7, 1929, in Sioux City, Iowa. She grew up in Sioux City and graduated from Central High School.

She was united in marriage to Patrick Shay on June 14, 1947, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sioux City. To this union, four children were born: Genelle, Ruth, Dianne, and Merle. Patrick passed away unexpectedly on August 24, 1958. Following his passing, Beverly continued to make her home in Sioux City. After a short time, she went to work at Younker's in Sioux City selling products for Knapp and Spencer.

She was united in marriage to Dennis Nilles on August 10, 1968, at St. Michael Catholic Church in Sioux City. Their marriage was the first in the new church. The couple made their home on a farm west of Le Mars. Beverly worked as a bookkeeper and receptionist for All Area Transit Incorporated in Sioux City and Le Mars until her retirement. Dennis passed away on March 28, 2023.

She was a longtime member of All Saints Catholic Parish – St. James Church in Le Mars. She volunteered at the Carmelites Monastery in Sioux City along with her husband and his siblings. She also made trips with her husband to the Carmelites in St. Louis, Mo. where they delivered "Black Gold" for their garden. Beverly was a wonderful cook and baker. She made many cakes for weddings, graduations, and birthdays. She also enjoyed canning vegetables from their garden. She loved flowers, especially red roses. She also enjoyed Sunday dinners with family. She and Dennis enjoyed fishing in Canada for over 40 years, many of them traveling in the Blue Bird bus.

Survivors include her children, Genelle (Jake) Dixson of Sioux City, Iowa, Dianne Shay of Sioux City, Iowa, and Merle (Becky) Shay of Le Mars, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Michelle Wright, Jakie Anderson, Doug Martin, Tonya Galles, Dawn Martin, Stephanie Shay-Overholser, Kyle Shay, and Amanda Shay-Brookhart; nine great-grandchildren, one great great-grandson; her in laws, Mark (Jean) Nilles of Le Mars, Iowa, Shirley Nilles of Kingsley, Iowa, Julie Nilles of Madison, S.D., and Judy Nilles of Le Mars, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard Brown, Ruth Brown Weaver, and Charles Weaver; her husbands, Patrick Shay and Dennis Nilles; her daughter, Dr. Ruth Shay; her siblings, Merle (Joyce) Brown and Donnie (Edna) Brown; her fathers and mothers-in-law, Frank and Ruth Shay and Peter and Olga Nilles; her in laws, Lorne (Florence) Nilles, George (Phyliss) Nilles, Stan Nilles, Anthony Nilles, Betty Nilles, Ruth (Gerry) Grage, Marcella (Norbert) Hansen, Clarice (Donald) Bainbridge, Peter Nilles, and deceased children of Frank and Ruth Shay.