Beverly Lester, 87, of Spooner died Thursday, May 8, 2025 in her home with family at her side.

Beverly was born June 3, 1937, in Springbrook, Wis., the daughter of John and Helen Allar. She attended elementary schools in Bashaw, Sarona, Lincoln, and Shell Lake, before attending Spooner High School, where she was a member of Future Homemakers of America. She graduated in June 1955.

Beverly married Norman Lester on Sept. 10, 1955. They lived in Florida briefly before moving to Cottage Grove, Minn., where they lived for 17 years, moving back to Springbrook in 1978. She worked for many years at Terraceview Living Center in Shell Lake. Their marriage brought three daughters Cindy (Mike) Roberts, Kathi Weaver, and Gayle McCumber.

Beverly loved gardening, sewing, quilting, and baking. She loved holidays, especially Christmas time with her family, and always hosting the big extended family dinners. She earned the loving nickname “Darn,” after the phrase “that darn grandma” was spoken within earshot of her grandson Tucker one too many times.

Beverly is survived by her three daughters; six grandchildren: Kelly (Scott) Briggs, Kyle Weaver, Keith (Amanda) Weaver, Corbin (Nikki) McCumber, Danika (Kumar) McCumber; eight great-grandchildren: Adam, Isaac, Isabelle, Lilianne, Everett, Kohen, Cooper, and Nevaeh; a son-in-law, Charles Weaver; her siblings Barb Hess, Phyllis Langland, Laverne Allar; and multiple cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives, all of whom will miss her dearly.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, her parents, an infant daughter, her son-in-law Bruce McCumber, her grandson Tucker McCumber, three brothers Grant Allar, Jerry Allar and Lawrence Allar, and her sister Midge Hanson.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, May 24, at 1 pm, at the Spooner Funeral Home with visitation beginning there at noon. Interment will take place at a later date at Earl Cemetery.

Last Update: May 16, 2025 9:03 am CDT