Beverley MacEwan Lardner, wife to the late Decker Lardner, and mother of Stephen, David, James and Maggie, and grandmother to ten cherished grandchildren, passed away quietly on October 21, 2021 in River Falls, Wisconsin. Amid glorious fall foliage and the gentle sound of softly falling leaves, she quietly let go, having said her goodbyes and fully expressed her love and gratitude for the life and people she held so dear. She was a wonderful storyteller, a terrific knitter, a lover of snow, birds, strawberry jam, lunch with a chocolate soda at Lago’s, children, dogs, wildflower walks in the spring, a good juicy peach, and most of all, her family. Canadian born and raised (Montreal 1931), Beverley Ann MacEwan fell in love during her first year as an R.N. at Montreal General Hospital with an American medical intern named Edward Decker Lardner from Moline, IL. They married in September 1953 and stayed in love throughout their life together in the Quad Cities. Bird-feeders were always full, and countless window-crashed birds were saved in her recovery basket. Adorably proper in almost all things, she breezily gardened on hot days in her shorts and brassiere, appreciated the bawdy humor of her rugby playing sons, and happily trudged in muddy boots along Mill Creek at High Point Farm. Northwoods lakes had a special place in Beverley’s heart. She treasured her childhood memories of Montfort in the Laurentian Mountains and being ‘Beach Patrol’ during Lardner family vacations at Michillinda Beach. Finally, she and Decker found their perfect summer retreat on Harris Lake in the northwoods of Wisconsin, where 30 years of annual gatherings with the entire family of children and grandchildren have knitted us all in loving memories of fireside cookouts by the lake, catching first fish, vases full of roadside daisies, and sunsets on the dock. Beverley is survived by her four children, ten grandchildren, her sister Elaine, and many beloved relatives, Canadian and American alike. A celebration of Beverley’s life will take place next summer in an open house on July 16, 2022, from 1-3 p.m., at the Hauberg Center in Rock Island, Illinois. Memorials in Beverley’s name may be sent to the Audubon Society of the Quad Cities (www.quadcityaudubon.org) to support the birds she loved so much. Cremation Services provided by Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.
New Richmond:
(715) 243-5252 |
River Falls:
(715) 425-8788
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For the family: Your mother, Beverly, was a gem. She volunteered in my classroom when I was first a teacher and her son, Jamie was in my class. She was wonderful and took aside a different student each week to help them read aloud. I know Jamie best of all and loved teaching him. My best to you all and deepest sympathy, especially to you, Jamie
Thank you for the kind words. You were a wonderful and encouraging teacher – one of my favorites at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. My mother and I would sometimes reminisce about grade school – you were and are always remembered very fondly by both of us.
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