Beverly J. Allin

Beverly J. Allin, a warm, funny, loyal, caring, frugal, and devoutly Christian spouse, mother and friend, died peacefully on July 23, 2026, at Sugar Loaf Senior Living in Winona, MN.

At her 100th birthday celebration in 2023, Beverly spoke to the gathered throng and told them, “After giving this a lot of thought, I decided that my secret to a long life can be found in four ordinary words: faith, family, friends, fun.” Four words Beverly Allin lived by.

Family: Born in Crosby, MN, on September 20, 1923, to Junella and William Richmond, Beverly was the oldest of three children. Times were hard for the family during the depression, but after the family moved to Hill City, MN, Beverly found a home in the local Methodist Church and devoted herself to school activities. Beverly loved learning and excelled in her class work, graduating valedictorian from Hill City High School, then attending Itasca Junior College before finishing her four-year degree at Hamline University graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Beverly and her future husband, Willard, who was three years her senior, both grew up in Hill City; but while they knew of each other, they did not get to know each other until high school. Their romance started in earnest when both went off to different colleges, growing through letters and visits during school breaks, grounded in a deep understanding of and love for each other. They were married on May 19, 1945. A month later, Willard was ordained a Methodist minister and Beverly graduated from Hamline. The couple moved to Two Harbors, MN, to begin a life of ministry and a family of two sons.

Beverly was a devoted mother striving to do the best for her sons. She was so proud of the men they grew to be, following their exploits and celebrating their accomplishments.

She remained close to all her adult nieces through visits and correspondence.

Faith: Beverly’s deep faith sustained her through life’s highs and lows and comforted her through the end. Throughout Willard’s ministry, Beverly served beside him. Beverly was a Sunday School and Bible study teacher. She sang in the choir and edited the church newsletter. She was a certified United Methodist lay speaker and frequently presided over Sunday services at smaller churches in southeastern Minnesota. For many years she made weekly visits with a fellow volunteer to church members living in assisted living or skilled nursing, sharing words of comfort and prayer. Beverly also served on the Watkins Home Auxiliary Board and was a member of the P.E.O. Chapter AP in Winona.

In 1986 Willard retired, and Beverly looked forward to traveling and time with friends, but in 1995 Willard suffered a debilitating stroke that confined him to a wheelchair. Beverly cared for him at home for eleven years until his death in 2006. Beverly said that time “was hard but not without beauty” because they were at home and together.

Friends: Beverly liked people and people were drawn to her humor and thoughtfulness. Over the years Beverly famously kept in touch with her dispersed family and friends with handwritten cards, notes and letters sharing news and commemorating anniversaries, birthdays, accomplishments, and offering comfort for losses, illnesses and misfortunes. It was a treat to receive mail from Beverly.

Beverly had an amazing group of friends of all ages, backgrounds and interests who enjoyed her company and stepped up to help her as she aged. Like the new college student Beverly befriended when he came to Sunday worship, who started sitting with her every Sunday, and stayed in touch with letters and then weekly phone calls after he graduated and moved away. Like the aides at Sugar Loaf who became friends and visited Beverly at the end of shifts and on days off.

Fun: Beverly enjoyed life. When the family was young there were epic, month-long camping vacations. After retirement Beverly and Willard often went south in the winter and enjoyed Elderhostels in the summer. They traveled to a number of foreign countries.

Beverly had loved to read since she was a child. She enjoyed a wide range of biographies, award winning novels, histories, historical fiction and romances. She always had a pile of unread books by her recliner.

Beverly was an avid sports fan, attending local high school and college games and following Twins baseball, Vikings football and Timber Wolves basketball, ready to give her opinion on the team’s prospects and critique the relative skills of the players. Son-in-law Tom took Beverly to a couple of Twins games every year. For her 92nd birthday, Tom and Beverly were at a game when Eddie Rosario, Beverly’s favorite Twin at the time, batted a foul ball into the stands where she was sitting. The baseball hit the back of a seat and landed in Beverly’s lap. What a birthday that was, great weather at a Twins game and Rosario bats a ball to her.

Beverly was a whiz at crossword puzzles and cryptograms and always excelled at word-based games.

In early 2026, Beverly published her memoir, My First 102 Years, with Ruth Bures. A final accomplishment in Beverly’s long life of accomplishments.

Beverly is survived by her sons, Craig Allin (Liz Sparks) Coralville, IA, and Kent Allin (Thomas Knabel) Minneapolis, MN, and several nieces and nephews.

Beverly’s family is grateful for the wonderful care Beverly received from the caring staff at Sugar Loaf, and for the friends who helped with errands and tasks.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2026 at Wesley United Methodist Church, Winona. Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery, Winona.