BEVERLY JOY GOEBEL

Beverly Joy Goebel (Nelson) of Maplewood, MN, a longtime resident of Shoreview, MN, passed away on December 20, 2022 at The Homestead at Maplewood care facility. She was 90 years old. 

Beverly was born October 22, 1932 to Willard and Olga Nelson at Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. They lived in Minneapolis until after the war when they moved to the family farm south of Mora. Living on the farm nurtured Bev's tomboy spirit. A pet bull, Bully, and pet dog, Blondie, were part of an idyllic childhood.

Beverly attended Mora High School graduating valedictorian in 1950, a fact she recalled proudly throughout her life. After high school she worked briefly in St Cloud before moving back to Mora where she worked at the bank. She married Earl Goebel in 1951 and started a family. They moved from Mora to Rice Lake, WI before settling in Shoreview, MN to complete their family. Upon birthing her third boy, Timothy, after William and Robert, her desire for a daughter was not to be left to chance. Barbara was adopted fulfilling this desire and completing the family. Barbara would become a companion in many of her travels.

Beverly was a homemaker. In her early 40’s, she was diagnosed with cancer and was a proud breast cancer survivor. Following recovery, she divorced and enrolled at the University of Minnesota earning a degree in accounting. Her fellow students referred to her as grandma though she had not yet achieved that title. Her degree and penchant to work tirelessly, afforded her a career at Olsen Thielen accounting firm in St. Paul until her retirement.

Beverly enjoyed golfing, dancing and traveling. Travel destinations included Las Vegas, Roatan, Peru, Italy, Monaco and Sweden. A highlight was her Swedish trip when she combined dancing with travel by accompanying the Dala Folk Dancers of Mora, Minnesota. Beverly's upbringing in the 1930s instilled the value of frugality and hard work. While attending the university, she remodeled and rented out rooms in her house providing much needed income. To her, a penny saved was a penny earned. This, combined with her shrewd handling of finances and value of education achieved her goal of leaving a legacy for her children and grandchildren.

Many thanks to the caregivers for The Homestead at Maplewood and HealthPartners Hospice for the kind, gracious care they provided to Beverly.

Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother, infant grandson, and son-in-law Michael Burke.

Beverly is survived by her children William (Jenny) Goebel, Robert (Karin) Goebel, Timothy (Sandy) Goebel, and Barbara Burke; grandchildren, Allison (Omar) Flores-Goebel, Laura, Jesse, and Hunter Goebel; other relatives and friends.

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