Services for Beulah Richards

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 12, 2021, 11:00 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Clearbrook, Minnesota with Pastor Mark Olson. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Join the family for coffee before the service. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with arrangements.

Beulah Lenore was born to Ben and Lillian Crosby on March 21, 1918 in Greenwood Township. She attended Greenwood School through the 8th grade which she did in 7 years. This served her well with Math, Reading and Writing skills. At a young age she traveled by train to the state of Washington to be with her sister Adeline and her family. She worked there for 17 months and returned home to Clearbrook with her Greenwood School classmate Emil Richards. Emil was working the CC Camps in Washington. They were married November 19, 1940 at First Lutheran parsonage in Clearbrook by Pastor Livingston.  

With no jobs, no money and no prospects the couple traveled to west central Illinois where Emil had family. He went to welding school and took a job in the underground coal mines from 1940 to 1944. They welcomed their son Richard in August of 1942 at Galesburg, Ill. In July of 1944 Emil received a military notice back in Clearwater County. Emil thought the Army could use a good welder. The family of 3 moved back to Minnesota and Greenwood Township in a 1935 V8 Ford with a 1 wheel bumper hitch trailer. She was to stay there until he came back, which was not the case. He was killed in the Battle of Ormont and is buried in the Hamm Military Cemetery in Luxembourg.

She bought a small house in Clearbrook which she owned for 70 years. She worked in almost every store in Clearbrook until Postmaster Clifford Berglund asked her to take the postal exam for the job of postal clerk. She got a near perfect score and the job that she held for 23 years.

Beulah was active in many community projects over the years. She delivered Meals on Wheels, she was a census taker, she was a life long member of the Legion Auxiliary, Ladies Aid of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and First Lutheran Church and Secretary of the Monday Night Bowling League. She was recognized as a knowledgeable community historian.

Beulah took care of two grandsons, Steve and Tony two days a week and did a lot of lefse baking, Sally Ann Cookies and quilting. She had a large garden with many different flowers. She enjoyed raking up 96 bags of leaves every fall for exercise. She enjoyed playing cards, fishing and doing puzzles. 

She loved country western music, especially Buck Owens and many others. She enjoyed her trip to Nashville twice and her trips to Hawaii and the Scandinavian countries.

Beulah is survived by her son Richard (Corrine) of Gonvick, two grandsons, Steven (Jeni) Richards of Anacortes, WA and Anthony Richards of Minneapolis. She is also survived by two great grandsons, Conner (Shawna) of Washington and Daniel of California. Also surviving are  her sister-in-law, Pearl Crosby of Flint, MI; Jeff Brown of Minneapolis and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Emil Richards, her parents, Ben and Lillian (Jacobson) Crosby, one sister Adeline (Lewis) Lee; three brothers, Bloyd (Margaret), Everett and Albert.

Memorials can be directed to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Capital Improvement Fund. Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com