Beulah Van Bockern

Beulah Ann Park was born on August 1, 1919, to Lester and Anna (Estergaard) Park in Moody County on the Nels Park homestead northwest of Dell Rapids, South Dakota. Beulah and her older sisters, Grace and Verla, and younger brother, Virgil, grew up on this farm which came to be known as "Happy Acres". Beulah died March 28, 2015 after a short time of care at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was 95 years young. Beulah attended Grinde Country School near her family farm. She graduated from Colton High School in 1937 and then received her teaching certificate from Eastern Normal Teacher's School in Madison, South Dakota. She taught in Roosevelt and Lookout Country schools. Beulah returned to the Normal School for another year of teacher education so that she could teach in town schools. She taught elementary students in Hartford and Lennox, South Dakota. Beulah taught until 1946, the year she met Donald Van Bockern, one of the Lennox soldiers home from WWII. Beulah and Don were married in the Dell Rapids Lutheran Church on August 17, 1947. They made their home in Lennox. Don worked at the family business, Northwestern Produce and Beulah began her full-time job of caring for her family. They raised seven children. Beulah was an enthusiastic volunteer at church, during her children's school days, and in the Lennox community. Their family grown, Beulah and Don built a home on an acreage one mile southeast of Lennox. They moved into their new home in 1975 where they enjoyed their retirement years raising livestock, gardening, participating in community life and creating a gathering place for family. In 1995, two years after Don's death, Beulah moved to Sioux Falls. Beulah loved her family, friends and neighbors. She loved to entertain, visit, take daily walks, and make her weekly visits to church in Lennox. Beulah loved writing others, working in her garden, sweeping the walk, cooking and keeping house. She loved to attend the events of her family and support them all through her prayers, presence, wisdom and fun-loving spirit. Beulah had an uncanny memory that allowed her to recall names, kinships, dates and significant events of those she met and those who became part of her extended family. Beulah's children are Paul (Karen), Donna (David Krueger), Steve (Sarah Drennan), Tom (Suzanne), Bruce (Gail), Jim (Donna) and Jeff (deceased, 1973). Grandma Beulah has nineteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. She has eight nieces and nephews who are children of her sister Grace (Merle) Willard of Colton, South Dakota. There are numerous other relatives that she loved. Beulah was preceded in death by her father, Lester; her mother, Anna and her siblings: Grace Willard, Virgil Park and Verla Park. Also preceding her in death was son Jeffrey, granddaughter Catie Van Bockern and her husband Don. Beulah's memorial service will be held at First English Lutheran Church in Lennox, South Dakota, on Saturday, April 4, at 2:00 pm. Pastor Hugh Brewer will conduct the service. There will be a private family committal service that precedes the church service. Community fellowship and a light lunch will follow. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory may be given to the Catie Van Bockern Education Scholarship (2001 S Summit, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD 57197) or First English Lutheran Church Endowment (120 E 2nd Ave, Lennox, SD 57039). Concluding one of her recent Christmas letters, Beulah wrote: "I say 'bye' for now as we rejoice in the hope and promise that God has given us."

Beulah Van Bockern

August 1, 1919 - March 28, 2015

Explore Obituaries &
Upcoming Services