Beverly Jean Ryan

Beverly J. Ryan, age 71, of Lake Lillian, passed away Friday afternoon, March 28th, at the St. Cloud Hospital, with family by her side.

Funeral services will be held on Monday April 7, at United Lutheran Church in Lake Lillian at 3:00 p.m. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Floral tributes can be sent to United Lutheran Church. Arrangements are entrusted to Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. www.petersonbrothers.com.

Beverly Jean Ryan was born on June 19, 1953, in Willmar, Minnesota, the daughter of Earl and Buela (Knoll) Youngkrantz. She grew up in the Lake Lillian community, was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church and graduated from the Bird Island-Lake Lillian High School in 1971. On January 15, 1972, at First Lutheran Church in Lake Lillian, Beverly was united in marriage to Michael Ryan. To this union, they were blessed with three children, Matthew, Michelle, and Kimberly. After Michael was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force, they returned to make Lake Lillian their home. Beverly was employed for many years as a secretary at the Lake Lillian Grain Elevator while also working as a waitress at Athmann’s Inn in Bird Island. She later worked at the grain elevators in Buffalo Lake and Bird Island.

Beverly was a lifelong member of First Lutheran (now United Lutheran) Church. She loved planning and traveling with her husband Mike. She loved camping and spending time with family at her family’s lake place on Lake Carrie. Her large vegetable gardens, flower gardens, antiquing and collecting recipes were some of many passions she had. Beverly always made time for her grandchildren and cherished them all.

She is survived by her loving husband, Michael; her three children, Matthew Ryan of Olivia, Michelle Ryan (Andy Hennen-significant other) of Olivia and Kimberly Ryan of Danube; seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Also surviving are her four brothers, Dean (and Jane) Youngkrantz, Gary (and Jody) Youngkrantz, Glen (and Patsy) Youngkrantz and Allen Youngkrantz, all of Lake Lillian and one her sister Joyce (and Kenton) Damhof of Blomkest, besides many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and grandson Dylan Kaiser.