Beverly L. Kindler was born on the family farm near Esbon, Kansas on
October 29, 1930 to Edna (Willson) and Glenn E. Kindler. She attended
grade school at Mount Zion #127 a one room school house one mile north
of the farm. She graduated from Lebanon High School in 1948. While at
home on the farm, she was a 10 year 4-H member of the Westside Winners
Club. She received many 4-H awards. In 1948, she was a Rock Island
Railway winner, traveling by train to Chicago for the National 4-H Club
Congress.
Besides 4-H projects in cooking, sewing and other home economics,
she raised baby beef along with her sisters. Her parents gave the girls
their first calves but after the fair when the calves were sold the
girls bought the calves for the next year and put extra money in their
college fund. Beverly showed cattle in Wichita and the American Royal
in Kansas City. Through her 4-H experience she decided to become a home
economist.
She attended college at Kansas State University from 1948 to 1952
graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. Beverly
was able to travel from the farm to the K-State campus via the
Continental bus line since the family farm was on Highway 36.
In August 1952, she was hired as the home economist in Decatur County
where she stayed for 8 years. She transferred to Norton County in the
summer of 1960. Some of her fondest memories were the county fairs.
In 1966 she was awarded a JC Penney Fellowship to attend Michigan
State University where she received a Masters of Arts Degree in 1967.
After finishing her degree, she returned to Norton to her extension job.
She served as an officer for many years at both the state and national
level of home economists including National President in 1979. In 1988
she received the distinguished service award of Epsilon Sigma Phi a
national extension fraternity. In 1989 she was recognized as the
outstanding home economist in Kansas. She attended the majority of
national meetings starting in 1958 until her final one in 2016,
traveling to all 50 states except for Hawaii, Alaska and Alabama. Each
time she returned home to Norton, she felt proud to be from Kansas.
She retired in 1994 after serving as a home economist professional
for 42 years. On her retirement day celebration, Beverly told the
attendees to never stop learning. After retirement she continued
working with 4-H organizations as a volunteer and judging at many county
fairs and the Kansas State Fair.
In addition to 4-H she was involved in many clubs including P. E. O,
Mid-Century Federated Club, United Methodist Women’s organization and
the Heritage Quilt Club. She volunteered in the Norton community for
numerous organizations and causes.
Beverly had many hobbies and many friends. When she celebrated her
90th birthday in 2020 she received more than 200 cards from far and
near. She was blessed to have so many wonderful experiences and
friends. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, her sister
Shirley Reynolds, her brothers-in-law Kenneth Reynolds and Merlin
Alexander, her niece Linda Gleason and grand nephew Jeffrey Gleason.
She is survived by her sister Virginia Alexander of Esbon, nephews Larry
(Mary Beth) Reynolds and Jim Gleason, nieces Kathy Atkins and her
husband Dave, Deanne Alexander and Tammy Alexander along with many other
relatives and friends.
Click HERE for service details.