Beverly Jean Murray was born July 16, 1937 in White Earth, Minnesota, to Fredrick and Madeline (Roy) Murray. Her younger years growing up were spent around Roy Lake and she graduated from Flandreau Indian School. Following her high school graduation, Bev made her home in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area working as a bartender at various establishments. In addition to her own children, she also helped to raise her grandchildren.


In 1993, Beverly moved back to the Mahnomen, Minnesota area where she has resided since and continued to help raise her grandchildren. She worked at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen until 2008 when her failing health forced her to retire. The past eight months, her son, Norman, and granddaughter, Kristina, have helped and taken care of Bev. Surrounded by family and under care of the Hospice of the Red River Valley, Bev died peacefully at home on Saturday, November 13, 2010. She was 73 years old.
In her spare time, Bev enjoyed many activities with her family and friends. These included playing Scrabble, Dominos, various other board games and the occasional trip to the casino. She also liked sewing, putting together puzzles and playing cards, especially Cribbage and Dummy Rummy. Bev was a member of Samuel Memorial Episcopal Church in Naytahwaush, Minnesota.

Beverly is survived by two sons, Michael (Margaret) Van Pelt, Minneapolis, Minnesota and Norman Van Pelt, Mahnomen; one daughter, Tina Van Pelt, Naytahwaush; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother, Charles "Ben" (Delores) Azure, Roy Lake, Minnesota; one sister, Minnie (Collins) Oakgrove, Red Lake, Minnesota; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Robert Van Pelt, four sisters: Freida Helps, Philomene Beaupre, Marilyn Bennett and Muriel Azure; and four brothers: Donald Azure, Robert Murray, Fred Murray, and David Murray.

Funeral Services were held Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 2 pm at the Sports Complex in Naytahwaush, Minnesota. The service was led by Robert Roy and the pallbearers were Brian Clark, Dennis St. Claire, Roger Burnette, Bob Parisian, David Burnette and Oscar Oppegard. Visitation began Tuesday, November 16th at 5 pm with a wake service at 7 pm which was led by Mike Dahl and continued until the time of the funeral on Wednesday.

Interment was at the Samuel Memorial Episcopal Cemetery in Naytahwaush.