Beverly Wilson

Born on December 1, 1934, in Spokane, Washington, Beverly was the daughter of William W. Pollard and Marion Pollard. She was the middle child of three daughters and spent part of her childhood in Red Lodge, Montana, where her family owned the historic Pollard Hotel. Those early years remained a memorable part of her story.

Bev was smart, compassionate, independent, and quietly strong. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson. While at Arizona, she met Annie Byrd, beginning a lifelong friendship that would become one of the most important relationships of her life. Annie later became godmother to both of

Bev’s sons, and the two remained deeply connected and devoted to one another for decades, until Annie’s death in 2021.

After college, Bev had a brief stint working at National Geographic in Washington, D.C., an experience she fondly remembered and was still reminiscing about just days before her death. She later went on to earn her Master of Social Work from the University of Denver, building a meaningful career as a social worker and therapist. Eventually, she opened her own private practice, where she helped many people over the course of her professional life.

Bev was also a woman of resilience. After her marriage to Jack Riddle ended when her sons were young, and after a later marriage also ended, she spent much of her adult life building a life of strength, purpose, and independence. She raised her two boys with love and determination and remained deeply proud of the men they became.

Her greatest joy was her family. She was the loving mother of John Riddle and Bill Riddle, and loved her daughters-in-law, Cindy Drury Riddle and Jenny Cloud Riddle. She was also a proud grandmother to six grandchildren and great grandmother to five great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved dearly.

Bev especially treasured the years when her eldest son, John, gave her office space in his building for her private practice. She loved seeing him regularly and sharing lunches together.

She also had a lifelong love of animals. Bev rescued many dogs and cats throughout her life and was a committed animal advocate. At one point while raising her boys, the family home included six cats, three dogs, and even a monkey—a fitting picture of Bev’s generous and openhearted nature. She was still feeding the squirrels in her yard until the day she moved out of her beloved home.

In 2022, Bev moved from that home she had lived in for more than 60 years to a retirement community in Longmont, Colorado, where her youngest sister, Kathleen Pollard, lived. Kathleen became an extraordinary source of love, companionship, and care for Bev, visiting her nearly every day, taking her to doctor’s appointments, and faithfully looking after her needs until the very end. Kathleen’s little dog, Bodhi, was also a beloved companion, often joining the sisters for lunches, errands, and appointments.

Bev is survived by her sons, John Riddle and Bill Riddle; her daughters-in-law, Cindy Riddle and Jenny Riddle; her six grandchildren; her five great grandchildren; her sister Kathleen Pollard; and many others whose lives were touched by her kindness, intelligence, humor, and love.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William W. Pollard and Marion Pollard; her sister, Barbara Pollard; and her dear lifelong friend, Annie Byrd. Bev will be remembered for her kindness, intelligence, independence, and the deep love she gave to her family, friends, clients, and animals throughout her life.