April 16, 1931 – April 4, 2024

Our beloved aunt, Edythe Mae Beukema, 92, entered the presence of the Lord on April 4, 2024, after a short illness.

Edythe was born to Minor and Pearl (Eckhoff) Beukema on April 16, 1931. She was brought up on a farm in Iowa before her parents moved to another farm near Edgerton, Minn., along with several of her 9 siblings. All her siblings preceded her in death: Franklin Beukema, Clarence Beukema, George Beukema, Johnny Beukema, Florence Froiland, Donald Beukema, Betty Kuipers, Sally Thomasson, and Theresa Ezarski.

In 1952, at the age of 21, she left her mother and bravely moved to Bellflower, Calif. Her first job was with JC Penney, but she ended up retiring from the US Postal Service after 38 years.

James “Jim” Brown was the love of her life. They were together for 35 years before he preceded her in death in 2013. In 2014 she moved to Ripon, Calif., with Toby and Barney.

Edythe’s hobby was watching football, baseball, and golf. She knew the statistics of all the players, no matter the sport and no matter the team. She knew her favorite players’ personal lives as if they were family. (Patrick Mahomes was her ‘boy,’ Kansas City)

She enjoyed reading biographies, historical literature, and novels. One of her favorite shows to watch was M.A.S.H. perhaps because two of her brothers served in the Korean War. When she was younger, she enjoyed going to movies, camping, and fishing. As she got older, she watched the old Westerns and cowboy shows that were popular in her younger years.

Every morning of every day, Edythe loved researching God’s Word, to learn more about her Lord and Savior. Her favorite Bible teacher was Les Feldick, a rancher from Okla., who led home-style Bible studies, and eventually had a program on TV. She would begin each day watching him.

She treasured Korky, Benji, Barney, and Toby, her little dogs that she had throughout her life, caring for them as well as she cared for herself. Hummingbirds brought her great delight, and she grew the most beautiful roses.

Left to mourn her passing are her nieces and nephews, Linda (Alan) Zinnert, Vernon Kuipers, Rick Calabrese, Verla (Roy) Kuipers-Shaw, Darwyn (Billianne) Kuipers, and great-nieces and great-nephews; her best friends Sharon and Susie, Rose and Mike of Bellflower, Dianna, Karl and Max of Arizona, and Jacob and John of Holland. She talked about you all so much. Thank you for staying in touch after she moved.

Verla and Victoria (great-niece) took care of Aunt Edythe during her final months of life.