Beavon 70th

BEAVON 70th

Fred and Velma Beavon celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Aug. 24, 2017, as family joined them at their residence of 31 years on the shoreline of Flathead Lake, Mont.

As Fred was looking out his dorm window at Emmanuel Missionary College (now Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Mich.) he saw Velma Boelter and exclaimed to his roommate, “I’m going to marry that girl!” At the time, Fred was studying theology and Velma was taking Bible workers training. They married on Aug. 24, 1947, at the Raymond Church in Wisconsin. Velma wore a white satin dress she made herself. In recent years she repurposed her dress into keepsake pillows for her grandchildren.

Following their honeymoon on Gull Lake, Mich., they worked in evangelism with J.L. Shuler and pastored a couple churches in the Detroit area. Their ministry continued in the Manastee District where they pastored four churches and started one of the first Pathfinders club.

In the summer of 1949 Fred directed the waterfront activities for the first camp session at renowned Camp Au Sable.

Their next move was to Lansing, Mich., where Fred served for eight years as youth leader for the Michigan Conference. Following was a move to Berrien Springs where he took a position as youth leader for the Lake Union Conference for 10 years.

In 1968 Fred and Velma and their three sons — Eric, Fred and Ted — moved to Bozeman, Mont., where Fred took a sabbatical and study leave in order to have more family time.

Following his studies in business and law, Fred accepted the position as trust and stewardship director at Mount Ellis Academy in Bozeman, Mont. After their sons finished their education, they moved to Gresham, Ore., where Fred took the position of professional relations with the Northwest Medical Foundation.

Next the couple moved to Alaska where Fred became the mission president. Finally they returned to Montana where Fred directed the trust, stewardship and Sabbath school departments.

Their son, Eric, helped them build their retirement home in 1985 on the shoreline of Flathead Lake where they still live. Their retirement years have made possible volunteer trips with Marantha International and Mission Projects Incorporated.