Vera Beal
Vera Beal was born in Holyoke on April 12, 1923, to Otto and Bessie (Powell) Brethouwer and began life on the family homestead in Yuma County about 14 miles south of Holyoke, just west of the present Ballyneal Golf Club. She died and passed from this life on Jan. 2, 2023, in Holyoke, 100 days before her 100th birthday.
As a child, she attended Hillsdale country school, riding behind her older sister, Velva, on a horse for two years, before her family moved to Holyoke in 1930, where she graduated from Phillips County High School. Following high school, she attended Colorado Women’s College in Denver, graduating with an Associate of Arts degree in 1942.
George B. Garland and Vera Brethouwer were married in July 1942 in La Jolla, California, while he was stationed at the naval base in San Diego, California, for pilot training. George was discharged in 1946, and they returned to Holyoke and became parents to two sons: Gordon born in 1946 and Brent born in 1949.
Divorced in 1964, Vera found employment in Holyoke with Shew’s Jewelry, Goodman Realty, Attorney Sherm Walrod, and finally being appointed clerk of the District Court for Phillips County, where she served for a number of years.
Vera and Ben Sumpter, brother of local businessman George Sumpter, were married in March 1968. Ben died following heart surgery in May of 1970.
A. H. “Butch” Beal and Vera were married in the fall of 1971 and made their home in the Holyoke area until his death on Jan. 1, 1997. From 1973 to 1987, they spent their winters in California and also enjoyed traveling all over the U.S. at other times of the year.
Music was a satisfying factor in Vera’s life. She began playing instruments while in grade school and played piano and organ for the First Christian Church in Holyoke, where she was a lifetime member. She retired from playing the organ in 2009. She sang with a trio at various community functions and with choral groups for many years.
Preceding Vera in death were her parents Otto and Bessie Brethouwer; husbands George B. Garland, Ben Sumpter and Butch Beal; sister Velva and brother-in-law Harold Heimer; son Brent Garland; and daughter-in-law Luisa Natale Garland.
Those surviving Vera are son Gordon Garland of Denver; grandchildren Phillip Garland of Eaton and Stephanie Garland Thomas of Greeley; stepdaughters Diane Beal Siedenberg of Seattle and Sonia Beal Hubbard of Holyoke; and nephews and great-grandchildren all over the United States.
Having lived a long and productive life, lived fully with great love, grace and humility, she will be deeply missed by all those who held a special place for her in their hearts.
A graveside service for the family was held Jan. 13, and a memorial service will be held at First Christian Church later in the spring.