Ruth Bevan, 83



CENTER — After a long illness, Ruth Bevan, 83, of Center, Colo. passed away Nov. 3, 2009 at Juniper Village in Monte Vista. The fourth daughter and seventh child of Walter and Hattie Felix, Ruth was born at home in Longmont, Colo. on March 26, 1926. [Or March 27, the date she celebrated her birthday until she requested a copy of her birth certificate as an adult, and discovered the doctor said she was born on the 26th.] The family relocated to a farm north of Center when Ruth was 15 years old, and she completed her schooling in Center schools, graduating in 1944.

After graduation, Ruth was employed at the local Rexall Drug store for a short time until she became the bookkeeper at the US Soil Conservation Office in Center. Then Delbert Bevan returned from WWII and won her hand in marriage. Delbert worked for Center Motor Car Company, which they later purchased and ran together. Delbert and Ruth were married on May 25, 1947, and three daughters and a son were born; Wanda Couzens-Smith of Monte Vista, Marilyn (Don) Bosenbecker of Colorado Springs, Nadine (Tony) Stevens of Gunnison and Jim (Vicki) of Houston, Texas. Ruth is also survived by two grandchildren William Couzens and Madeline Stevens, her sister, Lois Willis of Center and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Delbert, a granddaughter, Elizabeth, her brothers, Earl, Hubert, David and Duke and sisters, Emily Newman, Dorothy Frazier and Mae Crocker.

During her children’s and grandchildren’s school years, Ruth was active in school events, sports, and band fund raising (successful fruitcake sales). She was a very active and much appreciated member and officer of VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries and Heart and Eagle Federated Women’s Club.

A memorial service is being planned for Nov. 28, 2009 with more information to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Breast Cancer research or Parkinson’s research. Donations can be given to Strohmayer Funeral Home PO Box 142, Monte Vista, CO 81144 or sent to Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, PO Box 9670, Colorado Springs, CO 80932-9670 or the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Church Street Station, PO Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780.