Six years ago, on 9-11-2012, my wife’s mother Bev passed away due to Alzheimer’s Disease. She was only in her 60s. Bev loved the Lord and she was an awesome lady! I am forever grateful that I met her and grew to know and love her as my mother in law and friend.
My wife is from Alaska, and she is Alaska tough just like her Mom was! Her mother was an outdoor girl growing up. She absolutely loved the outdoors and she was not afraid to venture into wolf and grizzly country. Bev went hunting in the dangerous wilds of Alaska with her father as a young girl, and she could shoot a rabbit in the eye at 100 yards with iron sights! They hunted and planted great organic gardens, and ate what God provided from the land and sea. My wife’s Grandparents were pioneers to Alaska before it became the 49th state (on January 3, 1959) of these United States, and her Grandpa and Dad built many of the houses in their neighborhood, including the one my wife grew up in.
My wife grew up living off the land in much the same way. Bev kept a lush garden and green house in the backyard, and they harvested what they needed from both. No need for the store for those things. Her Dad hunted deer and moose, and they harvested kings and halibut from the sea. My father in law even built a little smoke shack in their backyard to smoke the salmon–so good! My wife grew up in such a cool way!
I loved fishing with Bev! We went on an awesome king salmon fishing trip on the Deshka River many years ago with my wife’s parents. By the way, my father in law is a great guy, and he is the most generous man I have ever known! I have learned a lot of very useful skills from him too. It was amazing fishing the Deshka with 24 hours of sunlight! I think we fished for over 10-12 hours straight! I will never forget the giant grizzly bear paw prints along the river’s edge where we fished. I am sure they were there watching us the whole time…we just couldn’t see them! I caught the biggest river fish of my life there too. Those king salmon are huge! I highly recommend visiting Alaska at some point in your life!
On a different trip, we had a great time at their family cabin in Homer. We did some amazing halibut fishing on the open ocean and filled the giant cans with them! My father in law’s boat is great, and it was the first time I had ever fished like that. You have to club those halibut real good or they won’t stop flopping around! I was so sore after that trip! Back at the cabin, Bev and I fished for little dolly varden fish right off the beach and we were catching them one after another! It was hilarious and Bev and I were laughing as we kept reeling them in! We had a great fish fry that night! That time fishing with Bev is one of the best memories of my life!
Bev was a real joker too and she got me real good one time. This was back when I first met my wife’s family after college. We were having dinner and I asked her Dad what the scar was on his shoulder. Bev said, “he got bit by a shark in Hawaii.” I knew they did a lot of snorkeling there on family vacations, so I believed her and I was amazed as I asked about the event. Bev started laughing because I fell for the joke so hard. The scar was only from rotator cuff surgery. I always laugh thinking about that. Bev had a great sense of humor!
Bev was a fun lady to be around and she cooked the best grilled king salmon and fried halibut that I have ever had in my life! We miss her and we love her, and we find great peace knowing she is at home with her Savior. We love you Bev!
I pray this post is a blessing to all who knew and loved Bev. Grace and peace to my wife and all of our family as we remember her today! Grace and peace to you all!
“Be still, and know that I am God..”
Pslam 46:10
Ryan Callahan's Blog 
A lovely, wonderful remembrance of Bev, Ryan. I know the times you shared with her were very special and you enjoyed all the adventures she loved. I am thinking of Heather, you, Naomi and Ben in remembering their Mom, Mother-in-law, and Grandma. Love you.
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Thanks Mom, love you!
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I am very sorry….my mother died of the same disease at age 73; I saw her draw her last breath…..
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Thank you. My heart goes out to you as well. Nobody should have to suffer that. God bless you.
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Thank you for your kind words. My mother was blind too.
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Your mother in law sounds like a great woman.
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Thanks, brother. She was great. She was very kind and funny. We miss her.
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