Beverly Louise Luft

Beverly Louise McCray Luft was born July 18, 1949, in Waltham, MA. She passed away with her family by her side at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN on July 6, 2022 at the age of 72 years.

Bev graduated from Stoughton High School in Stoughton MA, June 7, 1968. During the course of her growing, up she had worked at her mother’s two different restaurant’s named Peter Piper 1 and 2 which she was the hostess and cashier. During her time in high school, she had worked at a movie theater in Boston which they would premier movies and she had seen several movie stars. After graduation she had moved to Houston, Texas, and stayed with family before going to Ventura, California, to meet up with her brother.

She met the love her life Leon Jurgen Luft on a blind date through her brother, James McCray, on June 14, 1969, in Ventura, California. Leon and Bev were united in marriage on Jan. 10, 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada. While Leon was still in the military, they took time to travel, and they had traveled across the United States four different times together. She thought that Iowa the best place out of all their travels. Leon was honorably discharged from the service on Jan. 13, 1973, and they moved back to Iowa where they had lived. Throughout the years of living in Iowa, her mother-in-law taught her cooking, baking, canning, and other farm type activities. They had lived on an acreage before Leon passed and then she had moved the family to Jefferson in 1981. She would continue to live in Jefferson for the next 39 years before moving to Charles City to be closer to family.

During the time raising Lenny and Amy in Jefferson she had worked at Trinity Lutheran Church and at Casey’s General Store. During this time, she had volunteered her time at the school as an aide. She had followed Lenny and Amy through the years to a variety of sporting events. She loved to walk, bike, swim, spending time doing computer activities, reading her Bible, and doing puzzle books.

She loved to spend time with her six grandchildren and follow all of their activities.

People that have preceded her in death were Leon Luft (husband), Francis Louise Brooks Sanders (mother), James McCray (brother), and Logan Luft (grandchild).

Living family members are son, Leonard and Wendy Luft of Charles City, Iowa, along with their children Landon and Lilly; daughter, Amy and Daniel Graham of Casper, Wyoming, along with their children Eric, Emma, and Thomas; other relatives and friends.

Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson

Visitation was held Saturday, July 16 with the funeral service at the Northside Assembly Church in Jefferson. 

Casket bearers were Thomas Graham, Eric Graham, Landon Luft, Steven Stammer, Trenten Custer and Steve Ross. Interment was at Franklin Township Cemetery  in Cooper. 

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