Her funeral services are at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2009, at the Bethel Baptist Church, Powers Lake. The Rev. Garrett Yonkers is officiating and burial follows in the Bethel Baptist Cemetery.
Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Springan Funeral Home, Stanley and from 5-7 p.m. at the Bethel Baptist Church, Powers Lake. There is a family gathering at 7 p.m. at the church.
Beulah Joan Johnson was born Sept. 5, 1921, to Adolph and Alma (Rogness) Johnson on their family home near Coulee. They later moved to a farm in Mountrail County south of Powers Lake.
Beulah attended a country school three miles from their home. As a child she learned how to sew and cook and enjoyed skiing with her brother, Art. She worked at the Lyness Café in Stanley and later worked for her cousin, Bernice Hagen of Alamo. Beulah met Elmer Nelson at a carnival in White Earth and their first date was to graduation at Stanley. Before long, they tied the knot on Nov. 1, 1944, at the Bethel Baptist Church, Powers Lake.
They lived with Elmer’s brother, Leo, for the first year and then rented the Nels Johnsberg farm for three years before buying three quarters of land in Burke County from Dick Powell in October 1947.
By this time they had been blessed with two sons, Roelynn in 1945 and Marlow in 1946.
In 1949, Elda Rae was born, followed by Ruth Elaine in 1951. The family was rounded out by the birth of Elmer Burnel in 1952.
Beulah enjoyed sewing and made most of the family’s clothing. There was always homemade bread and canned vegetables from her large garden.
Sunday was a day to remember the Sabbath and for many years she was very involved in Sunday school, serving as Sunday school superintendent.
Beulah was also very active as a Minuteman and was awarded a trip to the United Nations, where she met and visited with Eleanor Roosevelt.
She was very active in promoting rural agriculture and fighting for fair trade. She also had a business, Beulah’s Ceramics, where she taught many classes ranging from elementary students who came to make special gifts for their moms, to adults, including family and grandchildren, whom she taught the art of cleaning, painting and finishing ceramic products. Beulah also cooked at the Wagon Wheel Café for many years.
She enjoyed crocheting, knitting and tatting and made many baby blankets and afghans.
She was the heart of her family and never thought of herself, only others, and often went without so others could benefit. Her deep passion for others led her to be loved by not only her family, but her community.
Elmer and Beulah moved into Powers Lake in 1974 and lived across from the elementary school, which was a quick escape for their grandchildren.
They moved to the assisted living in Stanley in 2001. Elmer passed away in 2003 and Beulah moved into the Mountrail Bethel Home in 2004.
She is survived by three sons, Roelynn Keith and Maxine of Fruitport, Mich., Marlow Gene and Joyce on the family farm north of Powers Lake and Elmer Burnel and Wanda of Stanley; two daughters, Elda Rae Titus of rural Powers Lake and Ruth Elaine and Ron Newman of Russell, Kan.; 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and four stepgreat-grandchildren; two sisters, Adeline Ruden of Stanley and Ruthie Long of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; one brother, Art Johnson of Powers Lake and a special friend, Bernice Hagen of Alamo.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; one son-in-law, Duane Titus; one granddaughter, Kristelle Marie Newman; one great-granddaughter, Isabella Faith Newman; four brothers, Elmer, Walter, Virgil and Ervin; one sister, Wilma Erie and her parents.
Memorials are preferred to the Bethel Baptist Church, Powers Lake; the Mountrail Bethel Home of Stanley or the Bethel Baptist Cemetery Fund.
Springan Funeral Home, Stanley.
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