Beverly Ann Venekamp passed away peacefully in the early hours of January 16, 2022 at her home in Fort Collins, CO. She was born April 29, 1934 in Marion, SD to Daniel and Ethel (Irwin) Heintz. She was the youngest of nine children.

Beverly attended school in Harrold, SD, graduating in 1952. She was active academically, musically and as a cheerleader. Harrold High won the State B Basketball tourney in 1951, surely due to her cheerleading. She attended Dakota Wesleyan University the next fall where she met her future husband, Herman Venekamp. After a lengthy courtship, they were wed on June 20, 1954 in Harrold, SD. To this union, three children were born, Kathy (1955), Kurt (1958) and Kenna (1963).

A few months after they married, Herm enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. He and Bev forever treasured the memories of meager Army Life living, with baby Kathy, in Fairbanks. In 1956, after Herm's honorable discharge, they returned to their homeland, South Dakota. Immediately thinking 'now what'?

Many may not realize that it was Bev's idea to call her brother-in-law, Superintendent Les Engel, married to her sister Vivian, to see if there might be any openings at the State Training School. Thus Herm began his illustrious career in corrections at the State Training School in Plankinton, SD Bev was hired as a 'house mother' to Herm's 'assistant to the night watchman' position. They made ends meet by supervising a population of the young men that Herm worked with, watching over them, making sure that they understood ideas about character and how to work hard and treat people with respect. She demanded it and got it. Many of those kids became lifelong friends.

In the early 1960's, Bev and Herm decided to try their luck in business along with their duties with the Training school. They went to their banker in Plankinton with their idea of opening a Dairy Queen in town. He absolutely turned them down cold and said it was a "poor idea and wouldn't make it". Not to be deterred, they went to Stickney and found another banker who was all too happy to comply with their wishes and finance their dreams of business ownership. They opened a Dairy Queen on the old highway in Plankinton, SD. They hired local kids from town and like the first banker predicted, business went downhill swiftly. After a few years of exhaustion, both from the long hours and probably too much ice cream, they sold the Dairy Queen. Bev said that what the kids and Herm didn't eat in profits, the kids handed through the front window to their friends. "Come to think of it", she said, "There were lots of rotund kids around Plankinton at that time".

In 1967, Governor Nils Bow offered Herman a position as Director of the Youth Forestry Camp in Custer, SD. He accepted and off they ventured to the Black Hills. They lived at Sanitor, SD initially, just south of Custer, where Bev began work as an aid, caring for the patients at the Custer State Hospital and then moved up to become an administrative assistant/secretary and later would be an x-ray technician and a phlebotomist.

Herm was in charge of the first temporary location of the Youth Forestry Camp at Valla Halla, now the Peter Norbeck Governors Retreat near the Black Hills Play House. Construction had not been completed at the current location of the camp yet. Bev was the 'house mother' yet again to the first batch of juvenile campers there. She home-cooked meals, loved on the campers and cracked the whip keeping the temporary Youth Forestry Camp in top condition.

In 1970, they moved into Custer, where Bev fit right into the social, school, work and church activities. Because of their love of sports, they made great friends with many of the parents of the players of the different athletic teams in Custer. Lots of basketball, football, choir concerts, not to mention games and cards.

Later, after her children were a bit older, Bev became a successful real estate broker as well as going into the health insurance industry selling Cancer Care policies. She told many stories of the times she and her sister-in-law Doe and her niece Wendee went selling together on trips across the state. They laughed constantly and could hardly refer to it as work.

From the late 70's to the late 80's, many spring and summer weekends were spent at their Gordon Gulch cabin in the heart of the Black Hills, near Sheridan Lake.  Much laughter, fishing, card playing and just celebrating a great life occurred there with Bev's sister-in-law's family, Doe and Buryl.  Many trips across the state occurred to be with family in Harrold and Kennebec for more stories, cards and fun.

In 1988, they once again found themselves in the light of opportunity, moving back to Plankinton, SD;  this time with Bev retired and Herm serving as the superintendent of the State Training School. During that time, they fostered a baby (April) in their home for 14 months and loved that call in their lives. They fully retired in 1992.

Over the next 20 plus years, Bev and Herm traveled between Hart Ranch, on the outskirts of Rapid City, SD and Casa Grande, AZ . They continued to make friends, renew old acquaintances and have fun pretty much 24/7. In the summertime, it was not that uncommon to have a least one grandchild, if not 3 or 4 at a time with them at Hart Ranch, swimming, playing tennis, checking out movies, mini-golfing and eating lots of good Gramma prepared foods. In the wintertime, her children and grandchildren might show up for a few days respite in the warm Arizona sun to enjoy games, cards, golf and laughter during time spent together.

Beverly never knew a stranger and was a fantastic networker long before the term existed. She was uncommonly resourceful.   She always knew the weather report and road conditions of where her family or friends might be traveling. She had great breadth of knowledge and experiences, was hardworking and fiercely dedicated to her husband and her family. She rarely allowed any relationship to disappear, always keeping in touch with a note or a call. Beverly never missed an occasion, whether it was a family or friend's birthday, an anniversary, or an event. Making sure that you were seen was her gift. She would never abandon a cause or relationship that she believed in.

She was just and yet tender and understanding. She had the best and quickest wit and was easy to laugh always. She was always game for whatever. Like her late husband, she would usually say, "sure, why not?", when invited out or to play a game, go for a ride or enjoy a little vino.

Beverly is survived by her children Kathy (Jeff) Davis of Rapid City, SD, Kurt (Teresa) Venekamp of Fort Collins, CO and Kenna (Sarah) Venekamp of Fort Collins, CO, sisters-in-law Esther, Doris and Rosemary, eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews, and thousands blessed to call her their friend.

Beverly's funeral will be held January 28 ^th at the Connection Church in Spearfish, SD at 10:00am with Pastor Jon Ballard officiating.  Following the service, she will be laid to rest with her late husband Herman at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.  A reception to follow at Connection Church in Spearfish, SD.   The Herman and Beverly Venekamp Memorial Scholarship fund has been established at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com