Beverly Rustad Rochelle

Beverly Jean Rustad Rochelle was a loving wife, adoring mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, cousin, and friend. She was a devoted mother who taught her children many important life-lessons including her conviction that everyone should take their place in the world and bloom where they are planted. But most important of all, she taught her children to be faithful servants of Christ.

Bev was born in Hallock, Minnesota on July 26, 1935 to Emojean “Elsie” and Alexander Norton Rustad. She was the oldest of five children. Bev would meet her future husband, Herbert Ray Rochelle in Phoenix, Arizona where she worked as a lab technician and attended college as he was completing aircraft pilot training. They were married on April 12, 1958. Their home would grow as God would give them five children: Timothy, Jeffrey, Renee, Mia, and Gia. Bev and Herb were charter members of Green Valley Presbyterian Church, and they invested their time and talent in laying the foundation for the church’s future. They enjoyed and celebrated 38 beautiful years of marriage together until Herb’s untimely death in 1997.

Bev enjoyed life’s most precious moments including entertaining and cooking for her family, extended family, friends, church family, and even best friends of over 80 years! She loved living independently at 85 years old! She enjoyed cooking, swimming, traveling to over 20 countries around the world, reading, talking on the phone, and even texting her grandchildren with many hysterical emojis. Yet, Bev could find joy in something as simple and meaningful as watching hummingbirds in her patio window; but only if her entire house was cleaned. She was a hard worker and seldom stood still. When she finally would sit down at the end of the day, she loved watching her very favorite TV show “Judge Judy.”

Bev was 100% Scandinavian whom many would describe as a “Viking Strong” woman in every sense of the word. Bev led a courageous fight against a rare bone marrow disorder classified as Myelodysplastic Syndrome for many years. She fought with grace and dignity. Bev’s medical team of caring professionals adored her for her determination and a perseverance that enabled her to continue enjoying life for many years. She would not allow her diagnosis to stop her from taking the trip of a lifetime to her home countries of Norway and Sweden.

During her prolonged illness, Bev often reflected on her own career as a skilled laboratory/medical technician sharing experiences with her team of health care providers in comments such as “Let me give you a tip on how to draw my blood…” or “I used to count every cell in the microscope!” She frequently encouraged people to donate blood during times of national shortage. She was a giving person, always looking for ways to make a difference; even in death, Bev donated her medicine to someone less fortunate who might not survive without it.

After Bev’s work in this world was complete, on the evening of July 15, 2021, surrounded by loved ones, she left this world to join her husband, Herb, in heaven. Bev was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Herbert; and her siblings, Richard, Ruthie, and Bobby. She is survived by her children, Timothy, Jeffrey (Natacha), Renee (Corey), Mia, and Gia; grandchildren, Nicholas, Kristen, Tessa, Bria, Cameron, Shay, Jake, and Angelo; and great-grandchildren, Aiden, Ruby, Korbin, and Hazel; many nephews and nieces; and her sister Marita (Ronald) Hennum. Bev’s legacy lives on through the lessons she taught, the life she gave, and the love she showed us.

A memorial service will take place on Friday, August 6, 2021 at 11:00 am at Green Valley Presbyterian Church. Internment will occur at Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City, Nevada on August 20, 2021 at 9:00 am.

The Rochelle Family encourages Bev’s friends to donate blood in her memory at Vitalant, formerly known as United Blood Services. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Green Valley Presbyterian Church Building Fund.