Obituary of Beverly Cother

A funeral service for Beverly Cother, 55, of Spirit Lake, will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake on Saturday, September 16 at 1:00 p.m. A visitation at the church will begin at 11:00 AM with family present beginning at 12. Burial will follow the service at the Okoboji Cemetery in Arnolds Park, Iowa.

Beverly Grace (Schelhaas) Cother was born to Rolland and Grace (Vander Top) Schelhaas on March 27, 1968 in Pipestone, Minnesota. She was baptized, made profession of faith and married at the First Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton, Minnesota. She attended Edgerton Christian Elementary School, Southwest Christian High School and Spencer School of Business earning a secretarial degree.

On May 19, 1990 Beverly was united in marriage to Terry Ray Cother. The couple lived in Spirit Lake for 15 years before building a handicap accessible home on an acreage in Orleans, Iowa. To this union three daughters were born, Amber Rae, Amy Grace and Breanna Grace. Terry and Bev were married 33 years.

In 1987, she began her secretarial career as a receptionist at The State Bank in Spirit Lake, Iowa. From 1990 to 1996, she was the administrative assistant in the sales and marketing office at Village Resorts & Conference Centers. When her rheumatoid arthritis progressed, she left her full-time job for a part-time position as patient care secretary at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Spirit Lake, Iowa. She completed her working career with Kinship Christian Radio as office assistant in KJIA’s Outreach and Business Office in Spirit Lake, Iowa from 2011 to 2022. 

Beverly was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where she served as a 4-year-old Sunday school teacher, vacation Bible school co-director, 4th grade youth club leader, youth club meal coordinator, funeral service leader and a PW circle member. She also volunteered many hours as a Girl Scout troop leader, Nitanski service unit director, secretary for the Low Vision Support Group and office assistant at Iowa Hospice. She enjoyed scrapbooking, creating greeting cards, writing her memoirs and having lunch with friends.

Beverly passed away on Thursday, September 14 at Lakes Regional Healthcare at 55 years of age.

Left to cherish Bev’s memory are her husband, Terry Cother; daughters, Amber (Levi) Davis and Breanna Cother; grandchildren, Cameron and Emilia Davis; parents, Rolland and Grace Schelhaas; three brothers, Al and Jan Schelhaas, Raymond and Lori Schelhaas and Randy and Peng Schelhaas.

Beverly was preceded in death by a premature daughter, Amy Grace; grandparents, John and Christina Vander Top and Albert and Jennie Schelhaas; and dear friend, Betty Bell.