Beverly Kaun Nicholson

The memorial service celebrating the life of Beverly Kaun Nicholson of Wadena will be held at 11:00a.m. on Saturday, March 29, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Wadena with Pastor Stephen Meltzer presiding. Family and friends may gather at the church on Saturday from 9:30a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be at a later date in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Long Prairie, MN. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You are invited to watch the service via live-stream by going to Schuller Family Funeral Homes' FaceBook Page or YouTube Page ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Beverly “Bev” Kaun Nicholson was born to Elmer and Helene (Williams) Schauer on July 22, 1941 in Sauk Centre, MN. She grew up on the farm with her two younger sisters Cathe and Jen, and her brother Gene. She was active in 4H and marching band, and after graduating from Eagle Bend High School she moved to Alexandria, MN where she worked as a waitress and switchboard operator. She met William Carl Kaun at a local ballroom dance, and after a courtship and engagement they were married on June 22nd 1961. They moved to the Kaun family farm and began farming with Bill’s father. Brad was born in 1963 and Rick followed in 1965. In 1969 Bill and Bev struck out on their own and started a Surge milking equipment business in Wadena, MN with the goal of earning enough money to purchase their own farm. Bill handled installations and repairs, while Bev handled store operations and did all the bookkeeping. During their years in business, they earned many annual incentive trips through Surge that enabled them to travel to Spain, Mexico City, Rio De Janeiro, Greece, the Caribbean and multiple trips to Hawaii. After moving to Wadena they also found a wonderful group of fellow transplants at St. John Lutheran Church that became dear friends over many decades. Bev was active in the church through choir, guilds and teaching teen bible class. She also volunteered with Meals on Wheels, hospice and the Wadena Library Board. In 1971 Jodi was born, and the business continued to grow along with their family. Enough money was finally saved up to buy a farm, and in 1976 the Valley Ridge Farm on Leaf River Road was purchased, with 270 acres of farmland, wooded areas and a homestead with outbuildings. The Surge business, pig and cattle farming and running a household with three kids kept Bev very busy. One noteworthy family event during this time was a family road trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida in 1980 which involved a Chevy Luv pickup and topper (for the kids to ride in back), a cooler full of Fruit Loops and milk for daily breakfasts, and lots of family adventures along the way. In 1981 the business was sold and Bev began her 3rd career as a traveling driver’s license clerk for the DMV in central MN and part-time job at H&R Block during tax season. Her top-notch organizational skills served her well in both roles. In 1986 the new house on the farm was built, and Bev and Bill sold the house and store in town and fully embraced farm life. For Bev, this mostly meant triple the space for her gardens, but she also enjoyed mowing the large farmyard for 2.5 hours in the summer until it was worthy of a golf course. Bev was very active throughout her life, and loved tennis, bowling, walking, camping, gardening, snowmobiling, dancing, cooking, cross-stitch, and playing all types of card and board games (especially Scrabble with her girlfriends). She always had a crossword or other brain-stimulating game nearby, had an affinity for dark chocolates and her favorite bird was the cardinal. Bev was very proud of her children as they made their way through school and the service, met their spouses, and brought her the next joy of her life – that of grandchildren. After 41 years together, Bill passed in 2002, and Bev appreciated her St John friends and family even more as she stayed on the farm and continued working. She took trips with friends, visited her grandchildren, and started the Red Solo Cup club. Upon retirement in 2010, Bev decided she may be open to finding another life companion. She met Norm Nicholson, a retired beet farmer from Fargo, North Dakota, in 2011. They began meeting for lunches in Detroit Lakes, and after Norm checked all the boxes on her list (yes, there was an actual list), they eloped to be married at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa on May 16, 2013. The St John crew welcomed Norm into their fold, and together they celebrated many holidays, gatherings and events together. Bev and Norm enjoyed their retirement years visiting friends and family, and began traveling south to Winter Ranch, Texas in the colder months where they made new friends and enjoyed starting various clubs, including the Whataburger Club, Happy Hour Club and the Winter Gardens RC Club, where she cheered on Norm out on the racetrack. Whether in Texas, Minnesota or North Dakota, Bev enjoyed traveling around to various tourist destinations, while also reconnecting with family and friends. Throughout her life, Bev was a faithful servant to God and chose to live life with grace and thankfulness. She was always thankful for the little things in life. She showed her love through humor, acts of service and freshly baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Always having a kind word no matter what the situation and making others feel comfortable and welcome endeared people to her – and she touched many people through her life. She always worried about others, and even during her brief time with pancreatic cancer at the end of her life, she was asking about others and not wanting to be any trouble. The family is most appreciative of the teams from ACC Medlink Transport and Vivie Hospice for their care and kindness. She passed peacefully on March 19, 2025 just after getting her nails painted (apparently she wanted them to look nice when she got to heaven), at the farm with all three kids and her husband Norm present. We miss her terribly, but have no question where she is now. Surviving Bev are her husband, Norm Nicholson; children: Brad (Kathy) Kaun, Rick (Therese) Kaun and Jodi (Jeff) Kosel; grandchildren: William Kaun, Graham (Bri) Kaun, Kesley Kaun, Mattie (Jake) Hill, Carter (Liza) Kaun, Allison Kosel and Patrick Kosel; great-grandchildren: Levi Hill, Niko Kaun and Harvey Hill; sisters: Jen (Tom) Weibye and Cathe (Joel) Anderson; sisters-in-law: Ann (Marv) Uecker, Carlene Kaun, and Candy Schauer; additional family members include Norm’s daughters: Tracy (Damon) Wherry, Michelle (Duane) Grube and Melissa (Chris) Morden; grandchildren Josh (Linda) Hummel, Cassie (Jake) Sanchez, Dylan Hummel, Sam Kerber, Nick Kerber, Damon Wherry Jr., Skylar Wherry, Alexandra (Myles) Hill, Jordan Grube, Jaxson Grube, Shaun (Jeris) Morden, Brady Morden, Coby Morden; great-grandchildren: Cameron Hummel, Clara Hummel, Isaac Hummel, Sophia Sanchez and Noah Sanchez, Peyton Hill, Preston Hill, and Brezyne Morden; brother-in-law Clifford (Lynnette) Nicholson; and many godchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. Preceding Bev in death were her husband, Bill Kaun Jr; parents, Elmer and Helene Schauer; brother, Gene Schauer; sister, Karen Adams; brothers-in-law Jim Kaun and Roger Adams; and sisters-in-law: Goldie (Harvey) Johnson, Leola (Tom) Russo, Bonnie (Dennis) Danielson.

Beverly Kaun Nicholson

July 22, 1941 - March 19, 2025