Beverly Jean Archer

Beverly Archer, age 71, passed away peacefully at her home on March 26, 2021. She was born September 28, 1949 to William and Eleanor (Bryson) Wall in Council Bluffs, IA. Born at Mercy hospital in 1949, Bev was part of the “little kids” in a family of 9. Her father worked at Meadow Gold dairy. She grew up a tom boy – fighting with her brothers over the guns, foregoing the dolls. She loved bugs, snakes, and frogs such that her mother often had to shake out her clothing before putting them in the washing machine. As a tough kid, it took some coaxing for her mother to learn that she had broken her arm after doing a balancing act on the swing set. She came in from outdoors and announced she was going to take a nap – a dead giveaway that something was wrong.

She was always a defender of her brothers and sisters, whether in school or in the neighborhood. She took on teachers at the high school in the 60’s when punishment was a bit more liberal, she stood up to a teacher defending her older brother against “the paddle”.

A memorable experience of her high school time was when her oldest brother who was serving in Vietnam couldn’t be present for her high school graduation. In lieu of attendance he sent a dozen roses, which were presented to her on stage when she received her diploma. A photo was taken and published in the Nonpareil.

At 14 years old a good friend invited her to an LDS church youth activity. “Lets go and have some fun!” she said. At 18 she was baptized into the church. After graduation she and another friend moved to Salt Lake City where she worked at the Hotel Utah. A few years later her sister Lucinda joined her out west, followed by Maryann later. Eventually they all moved to Wyoming and were roommates for many years to come.

She moved home to Council Bluffs in 1980 where shortly after, in a chance meeting she was introduced to her future husband, Dan. A couple of years later their courtship began as simply “doing things together”. Concerts, movies, dinners and just talking. They were married in 1985, staying in Iowa for a few more years. They moved to Colorado for Dan’s job where they stayed for 5 years. Circumstance brought them back to Iowa where both of her boys – Nicholas and Travis – graduated from Abraham Lincoln high school.

Her last job, which she held for 10 years was as the “mean lunch lady” at Kirn Jr. High in Council Bluffs. She loved this job more than any other. As the leader of the lunch crew she took license to hold contests with the kids from time to time allowing them to win prizes for doing simple tasks like a dozen push-ups. She was most well known for her hideous serenade of Happy Birthday to unsuspecting students – in the most horrible, off-key, loud voice she could muster – meant to make a spectacle of the youngster. The kids loved it so much, not one child could slide by without some other making Bev aware there was a birthday.

On many occasions Bev would take money out of her pocket to make sure each child had something to eat for lunch. On more than one occasion, a child wearing emotions on his sleeve would find his way into the kitchen to have lunch so that he wouldn’t have to be embarrassed crying in front of his friends. When Bev and Dan would go out to the local movie theater, students would recognize her and flock around her. She was truly loved.

Bev’s favorite calling in the church was teaching little kids. She had a loving and FIRM voice and had no trouble keeping bouncy kids in order throughout the class.

She loved traveling and going on Caribbean cruises, road-trips stocked with snacks and “summer songs”, Taco Bell runs, and SPAM!

Her greatest joy was seeing her 3 grandchildren. She was their Mee-Maw and, despite Covid, was able to connect with them by Facebook Messenger. While there will be few things about her that they remember as they grow older the burden of instilling those memories will be on aunts and uncles who have endless stories to share.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sister, Phyllis McComb; brother, James Wall; nieces, Emmyann, Cynthia; and nephew, Salvador.

Beverly is survived by spouse, Dan Archer; sons, Nicholas (Tawny) and Travis (Ashley) Archer; brothers, William (Lois) Wall, Lloyd (Judy) Wall; sisters, Barbara Matthews, Yvonne (Roy) Bacchi, Lucinda (Richard) Spreng and Maryann Martinez; grandchildren, Olivia, Jaxon and Lucille; and a host of other family and friends.

Visitation will be on Sunday, March 28, 2021 from 5:00 - 7:00PM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2303 Butler St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503). Funeral Service will be on Monday, March 29, 2021 at 10:00 AM also at the church. Masks are required at both events. Burial will be in Hazel Dell Cemetery.