Rae Beardmore

Rae J. Beardmore, 93, of Waukon died Saturday, November 30, 2019 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 5 at 11 a.m. at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church in rural New Albin with Pastor Paul Burgess officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, December 4 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.

Rae Joan Holthusen Beardmore was born in Wahpeton, ND September 17, 1926, the daughter of Harriet Gene (Glasgow) and George William Holthusen. She graduated from Wahpeton High School in 1944 where she was a lifeguard at the local swimming pool, a girl scout, a member of a USO support group, and participated in the band. Rae liked music and the band was a logical choice as her father was a member of a WWI service band with John Philip Sousa.

After high school she attended Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, where she met her roommate, Mae Beardmore. Mae happened to have a brother named Glenn. September 2, 1947, Rae and Glenn Earl Beardmore were married in Wahpeton, ND, and the couple settled in rural Dorchester, where they farmed land that had been in Glenn’s family since 1886.

The city girl quickly learned that she was now a farm girl as Rae adjusted to rural life, caring for a large garden, hired men, and whatever life threw at her. The farm raised good crops and five happy children who were surrounded by love and a lot of work. Rae and Glenn continued to farm until his death May 1, 1978.

Glenn and especially Rae did find time to travel and visit relatives around the country and world. Rae visited France and England several times. She also traveled through much of Europe and Australia in addition to many parts of the United States. Her U.S. travels included trips to Florida with lifelong girlfriends where they lived their own version of “Golden Girls”.

Rae “retired” from the farm and moved to Waukon in 1993. There she continued to work at Robey Memorial Library for many years. Rae’s smile, pleasant personality and caring manner made her many friends throughout her life. She loved her children but she really loved her grandchildren, many of whom considered her their best friend.

She was a good employer and a good employee and all who had the privilege of knowing her were better for it. Rae was proud of her family and her heritage which included ancestors Alexander Majors, one of the founders of the Pony Express, and author Ellen Glasgow.

Throughout her life Rae participated in many community activities. She was an active member of Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church where she started a choir and served as its director, taught Sunday School, and helped in countless other ways. She was also a member of the Allamakee County Historical Society, Farm Bureau, and her beloved PEO which she belonged to for 72 years. The past few years she has been a resident at Evergreen Court and then the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon where she continued to make new friends.

Survivors include four children: George (Helen) of Dorchester, Barb (Larry) White of Waukon, Joan (Steve) Malm of South Bend, IN and Jim (Becky) of Caledonia, MN; 13 grandchildren: Christopher and Courtney Beardmore, Dana (Joe) Johnston, Rob and Jared White, Kirsten (Mark Roche) Malm, Steven Malm, Ali, Taylor, Jack and Josh Beardmore, Regan (Justin) Sweeney and Ryan (Amanda) Berns; 11 great-grandchildren: Lexi, Nolan, Franklin, Alex, Juliana, Oliver, Madison, Chase, Stella, Scarlet and Evelyn; three sisters-in-law: Mae Gustin, Jane (Leon) Schoh and Ruby (Nyles) Herman; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Glenn; her son, John; her sister, Barbara (Bill) Peterson; and a sister-in-law, Helen (Delton) Mohwinkle.

Rae’s passing will leave an unfillable hole in the lives of her family but she deserves the rest and it’s time to let her take her smile and unique spirit into the next chapter.