Beverly Eastby

Beverly Odella (Kolstad) Eastby, a longtime resident of Fergus Falls, MN died at her home in the arms of her family on April 26, 2025, just three days after her 95th birthday.

Bev was born on April 23, 1930, to Otto and Jennie Kolstad. She grew up on a dairy farm just north of Underwood. She attended and graduated from the Underwood School, where she met Vernon Eastby. They were married on November 2, 1950. She lived in Underwood with her newborn daughter, Judy, while Vern was stationed in Korea with the Army. After he returned home, they moved to St. Cloud while Vern went to college. They eventually settled in Fergus Falls and in 1963 bought the house that would be their home for the duration of their lives.

Bev went to work at the Fergus Falls State Hospital in the rehab department in 1956, where she worked until she became pregnant with her second daughter, Ellen, in 1963. Their third daughter, Jo, was born in 1964. During this time, Bev was a substitute teacher until returning to her job at the State Hospital in 1970. She was active at Federated Church, teaching Sunday school, attending and leading Bible Studies, and participating in the ladies' aid. She was also active in Eastern Star and Past Matrons.

In March of 1972, Bev's active lifestyle came to an abrupt end. While driving to a conference for work, the car she was riding in ran under a semitruck during a whiteout in a winter storm. She was seriously injured and spent many weeks in the hospital. For the next several decades, she was in and out of hospitals, had four hip replacements, was in constant pain, barely cheated death on at least a couple of occasions, and was bedridden for much of the time. The CB radio gave new meaning to her life while she was confined to bed. She did emergency relay. She was known far and wide as "Wheelchair" and talked with truckers passing by from all over the country.

Bev enjoyed many hobbies. She was an accomplished seamstress, sewing bridesmaid dresses for the weddings of two of her daughters. She liked to paint. She enjoyed needlework and embroidered a large tiger head on the back of a shirt for Vern. She also took a cake decorating class and made wonderful cakes for her family.

After her husband retired, Bev and Vern bought a motor home and traveled around the country. They eventually found a park they loved in Alamo, Texas, and bought a mobile home there. Bev loved when family came to stay and enjoyed having her niece live next door. Vern died on October 9, 2009. She often said she missed him more every day. She sold her home in Texas in 2018 and moved back permanently to the home they purchased in 1963. It was there that she spent the last years of her life, with her daughter, Ellen.

Bev was devoted to her family. She will be dearly missed by her three daughters, Judy (Gary) Boushley of Fergus Falls, MN, Ellen Eastby of Fergus Falls, MN, Jo (Jeff) Kohlhase of Fergus Falls, MN, her grandchildren, Jenny (Mykl) Westbrooks of Columbia Heights, MN, Kelly Pulford of Brooklyn Park, MN Kerry (Dave) Crowe of St, Cloud, MN, Casey (Brittni Field) Rude of Fergus Falls, Tina (Brian) Billings of Underwood, MN, Aaron Rude of Fergus Falls, MN, Stephanie (Ryan) Payson of Fergus Falls, MN, 10 great grandchildren, with another due in October, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Vernon Eastby, parents, Otto and Jennie Kolstad, siblings, Chester Kolstad, Loretta Haukebo, and Janet Maloney, and foster brother James Olson.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, May 1, at 2 pm at the Unitarian Church of Underwood in Underwood, MN. Family and friends are welcome to come during the hour prior to the service. The service will also be available on Zoom with the following link: https://bit.ly/UCUSunday, Meeting ID: 970 8841 4602, Passcode: 424091. Bev will be interred with her husband during a private family service at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to North Country Food Bank or Flags for Fort Snelling.

Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral and Cremation in Fergus Falls.

Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com