Beatte L. Harper

Beatte L. Harper was born May 22, 1936 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After a brief time in Czar, Alberta, Canada, she grew up on the farm in Henning, Minnesota the daughter of Fred and Ebba (Hanson) Olin. She came to know Jesus as her savior and was baptized at First Baptist Church in Henning. She graduated from Henning High School in 1954 and continued her education at Bethel College and the University of Minnesota. She attained her degree in elementary education in 1958 and taught in elementary schools in Hoyt Lakes, Brainerd, Duluth, St. Paul, and Eagle Bend, Minnesota for the following 15 years.
She was united in marriage in 1966 to Thomas Harper and was blessed with two children, Erick and Sara Beth. After living in Eagle Bend and Brainerd, the family made their home in Tyler, Minnesota in 1983. While in Tyler, Bea worked for R.E.M. as a caregiver for 18 years. She retired in 2004. She enjoyed volunteering within the community of Tyler, especially at The Rock rummage sale. In 2005 she was diagnosed with cancer. After a courageous battle she died at her home March 22, 2011, at the age of 74 years and 10 months.
Bea was a member of Faith Community Church in Pipestone, Minnesota, where over many years she taught Sunday School and Awana and served as a Deaconess. She enjoyed gardening, raising plants, reading, baking, cooking, and especially extending hospitality to people, particularly her children’s friends. An avid collector of antiques, she loved auctions, thrift stores, and rummage sales. Bea was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and friend.
She will be lovingly remembered by her son, Erick (and Sarah) Harper and their children, Caleb, Andrew, and Alyssa of Tyler, Minnesota, Sara Beth (and Marc) Aune and their children, Evangeline Beatte and Gideon of Woodbury, Minnesota, and many cousins who were as close as siblings, other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Ebba. Blessed be her memory!