Beverly Baxter 1942-2024
Beverly Ann Bohnenkemper Baxter (Bev), 81, of Holton, passed away Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, at Aldersgate Nursing Home, Topeka, after a long struggle with illness.
She was born May 22, 1942, in Holton, the daughter of Harlan and Faye Bontrager Bohnenkemper. Bev graduated from Whiting High School in 1960.
Bev spent her life from the time she was a teenager helping to care for people beginning as a volunteer candy striper at the Holton Hospital. After high school graduation, she went on to become a registered nurse and worked at various hospitals and nursing homes during her career until she retired at age 64, having worked in many different capacities.
After retirement, Bev developed a number of health struggles, making it difficult for her to go outside of her home, and spent much of her time reading books, watching college basketball on television, talking with life-long friends on the telephone and visiting with her children and grandchildren. There was nothing Bev enjoyed more than spending time with her family and listening to Jim play the piano and sing. Her children have decided her final gift is to play Jim’s recorded songs that were her favorites for her journey to her final resting place.
Bev was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Holton.
She married Jim Baxter on Dec. 12, 1965, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Holton. They had celebrated more than 55 years of marriage when Jim unexpectedly passed away on Sept. 9, 2021.
Survivors include a son, James “Michael” Baxter of Holton, and daughter, Christianna Hartman (Thad) of Topeka; two grandchildren, Claire (Mitchell) Junkins and Max Hartman; and sisters-in-law, Linda Bohnenkemper and Tina Bohnenkemper, both of Holton, Barbara (Baxter) McGinnis of Topeka and Linda Baxter of Onaga.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents, Harlan and Faye Bohnenkemper; an infant daughter, Heather Baxter; brothers, Gary and Galen Bohnenkemper; a sister, Betty Beam; and brothers-in-law, Herb Baxter and Dan McGinnis.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 at Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at the Holton Cemetery. Family will greet friends one hour prior to service time. Family requests casual attire.
Bev will lie in state at the Mercer Funeral Home from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19. Memorials may be given to the Trinity Lutheran Church, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, Kansas 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
