Another angel joined the heavenly choir. Beverly Jean Dahl was born on August 7, 1926. She was the 2 nd child and only daughter of Henry F. Dahl and Naomi Potter Dahl. “Sis” had 3 brothers. Kenny was older, Johan (John) and Gary were quite a bit younger. Mom helped her dad outside and then came inside and helped her mom clean, cook and do other chores. Life was not easy growing up.
Mom attended a country school thru 8 th grade. She attended high school in Glasgow and stayed with her grandparents during the week. She graduated from Glasgow High School. After high school, she worked one year on the ranch and then moved to Portland, OR and worked for Western Union. She often rode the last running night bus to get home. She made lifelong friends in the short time she was there.
She returned to Montana because of a special person. Bev married Henry Pankratz , the love of her life, on March 4, 1948. They made their home in Wolf Point with their 3 children: Janice, Roger and Arlyn. Mom was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, taught Sunday school, belonged to various organizations and worked as a bank teller. They square danced, bowled and enjoyed camping and fishing. Life was going along smoothly, when Hank was tragically killed in 1966. This turned her world upside down. She said that she felt God’s hands surrounding her and comforting her during this time.
In 1968, she married Ray Roberts. She gained all of Ray’s sisters and brothers and their families. There were many Roberts’ family reunions throughout the following years. Ray and Bev lived in Glendive for many years. They loved to dance and they traveled throughout the US in their RV. They wintered in Apache Junction, Arizona for at least 10 years, where they worked on their golf game.
Bev was a member of ESA Sorority (a service organization) for 35 years. She held various offices and as state president, she had the pleasure of meeting Danny Thomas the founder of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Mom was also historian several times…she was scrap booking before it became popular! She volunteered at Eastmont, where she worked with handicapped children.
Age has a way of changing people, and it was in 2009, that Mom and Ray moved into assisted living at “The Crossings” in Laurel, MT. In January, 2012; Ray passed away and Mom moved in with her daughter in Bridger, MT. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s had a firm grip on her. However, mom could still speak, her eyes twinkled and she had her wonderful laugh. Alzheimer’s continued to steal away our mother little by little. Surrounded by love at home, Mom passed on Friday, December 16, 2016.
She was preceded in death by both husbands, her parents, her brothers Kenny and John, and her granddaughter, Brandi Pankratz and great grandson George Wassmann. Many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law went on before her. She is survived by one brother Gary Dahl of Lustre, MT. She is survived by her children: Janice (Bob) Goetz of Bridger, Roger (Laurie) Pankratz of Baker, and Arlyn (Janet) Pankratz of Lustre. Her grandchildren: Jennifer (Larry) Stern, Jeremy (Elizabeth) Goetz, Courtney (Josh) Waggener, Caitlin (Steve)Yates, Hannah Goetz (Jeff), Craig (Sacha) Pankratz, Darcy (George)Wassmann, Kari Pankratz (fiancée Cody), Chris (Crissa) Abercrombie, Marc Pankratz (Jamie), and Shelley (Kris) Keller. She has 14 great-grandchildren. Several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and cousins survive her also.
We would like to thank the Beartooth Billings Clinic hospice nurses and staff. A special thank you to Beth for her loving care of Mom and to Shirley for watching over mom, also.
Funeral services will be at 1 PM on Wednesday, December 28, at Clayton-Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point, MT. Viewing will be held from 10am – 12pm. Floyd O’Brien will be officiating.