Bev Wedekind

Beverly “Bev” Elaine Wedekind was born on July 28, 1940 in Lemmon, South Dakota to Clarence “Mike” and Ella Texley. Bev was born the second child to her older brother Bobby, but four younger siblings soon followed, and she took great joy in raising Carol, Marvin, Dennis, and her baby brother Jerry alongside her parents. Bev loved her hometown of Lemmon and found love there in return with James “Jim” Wedekind.

After Jim retired from the Army and Bev graduated from Lemmon High School in 1959, the two moved to Snohomish County, Washington. They were soon married in Trinity Lutheran Church, January 29, 1960. Bev and Jim started a home in Lynwood where they raised two boys, Michael and Jeff Wedekind. Bev’s sons were her pride and joy.

In addition to raising her children and some catalog modeling, Bev worked at Bank of America as a teller, eventually moving into management. Bev enjoyed her job and particularly liked talking to the customers. Whether it was Lefawn Marie, whose name she fell in love with enough to save for a daughter (though she never got to use it), or the Hollywood Bandit, an infamous bank robber who held her store up at gunpoint. Nothing could ever stop Bev. In 1986 Bev was diagnosed with breast cancer, and although it was a difficult time for the Wedekind family, cancer messed with the wrong woman--Bev was not one to hold her punches. She beat breast cancer the same year.

After her sons were out of the home and beginning families of their own, Bev joined Jim in retirement and eventually the two began a new chapter of their lives. Bev and Jim began travelling between Sundesert in Othello, Washington and Desert Skies in Mesquite, Nevada, doubling their fun. Bev brought people together wherever she went. She was a true friend, and she knew how to have fun. She loved Bingo and dancing, and she loved to shop. When Bev and Jim were in Washington or Montana, they both thoroughly enjoyed spoiling their granddaughters. Bev also loved to surround herself with beauty. She kept a very nice home and always took care in the way she presented herself. She had a beautiful wardrobe which was always pristine and organized down to the color of her shirts and their sleeve lengths. Bev also saw beauty in nature and enjoyed traveling to and from their two homes.

Eventually Jim’s health brought them back to Washington full time, and in 2016 Bev and Jim moved to Rosewood in Ellensburg, Washington to be near Jeff’s family. Soon after, on February 25, 2017, Jim passed away from a pulmonary embolism. Through her grief, Bev formed a new community in Ellensburg and found strength in her friends and family. She was a regular at the Bingo Hall, was always up for line dancing, and never missed a rodeo weekend. Bev was always a country girl at heart, and it was clear she was meant to live amongst the cowboys.

After selling her house and moving in with Jeff and his wife Angie, Bev began traveling the country. She traveled to Reno, Las Vegas, New Orleans, San Francisco, Hawaii, Disneyworld, and Disneyland, not to mention all over Washington as well as to Montana to see her son, granddaughters, grandson, and great grandsons. No matter how much she traveled, Bev never missed a family gathering. Her family could count on seeing her at every camping trip and for each celebration. Bev treasured her family and friends above all else, and never let them forget it. Her love and devotion to her family brought her to Washington DC in 2023. After years of searching for her older brother Bobby who was a prisoner of war, missing in action, Bev and her sister Carol were invited to a conference where they were informed that a probable match for his grave was finally found. Bev never gave up on finding her brother, and her loved ones all knew she would have done the same for each and every one of them. Her love was unconditional, and as powerful as her spirit.

On the morning of Sunday February 23, 2025, Bev Wedekind died of complications of heart failure. In her final moments she was surrounded by her friends and family and wore a fresh coat of nail polish on her fingers and toes. Bev was not one to leave her feelings unspoken, and leaves behind many friends and relatives who will feel her loss, but who will never doubt her love for them.

Bev is survived by her sons, Mike and Jeff, and their children and grandchildren, as well as her sister Carol and brother Dennis, her nieces, nephews, and their children and grandchildren. Bev was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Jim Wedekind, and her brothers Bobby, Marvin, and Jerry.

Bev's family will be hosting a Celebration of Life on April 12 2025 at 1:00 pm at the Rosewood Community Center (Rosewood Clubhouse) in Ellensburg. We invite all that knew and loved Bev to join us as we celebrate her life and the love she showed us all. The family will provide all of Bev's favorite sandwich fixings and asks that if you feel inclined to please bring a side dish or dessert.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.johnston-williams.com