Beverly (Kraulik) Stenehjem

Beverly (Kraulik) Stenehjem was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and had many fond memories of growing up in Ada, Minnesota. She studied early education at Moorhead State College and received her teaching certificate. Bev loved teaching and taught grade school for a few years before marrying her husband, Willis, in 1953. They had four children who now live in Montana, Washington and Oslo, Norway.

Bev was a passionate cook and one of her favorite things in life was spending time with family and friends, and organizing numerous gatherings for special occasions.

Bev loved to travel and was fortunate to have been able to visit and experience many places all over the world. Bev and Willis were members of a group called Friendship Force that promotes peace through understanding of people and other cultures. Through a program of home hospitality stays, they were hosted by people from other countries and in turn hosted people in their home from other parts of the United States and several countries. She has been to Norway many times and is very fond of the Pacific Northwest and Washington state in particular, where all four of her children were born.

Bev and Willis were longtime members of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. They were both very musical and enjoyed singing together in the church choir and in a Scandinavian choral group. She was an avid reader and always liked to have a book close by.

Animals and pets held a very special and tender spot in Bev's heart. In recent years, she provided a loving, doting home to two older cats, Hannah and Harley.

Bev was preceded in death by her husband, Willis. They both live on through those they have left behind. Children: Jill (Mike) Degn, Scott (Bonnie) Stenehjem, Sally (Tyler) Amunrud, Janine (Anthony Blofeld) Stenehjem. Grandchildren: Sarah (Matt) Rachor, Matt (Katie Ebert) Degn, Jessie Stenehjem, William, Kristoffer and Anja Blofeld. Great-Granddaughter: Megan Rachor.

The family thanks all the wonderful staff at Canyon Creek Memory Care for their compassion and humor in caring for Bev.

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 23, at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Billings. There will be a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Friendship Force International or a charity of your choice.