Beevers, Wally

Wally Beevers, 44, of Spring Valley, Minn., died Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, at his cabin in rural Preston. The funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Spring Valley, with the Rev. Steve Peterson officiating. Following the Mass his body will be cremated. Friends may call from 5 to 8 tonight and one hour before services Tuesday at the church. There will be a Celebration of Life for Wally at the Kingsland High School gymnasium from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2.

Wally was born Nov. 16, 1965, in Manchester, Iowa, the son of Walter and Joann (Dozark) Beevers. He was raised in the Lamont area and was a 1984 graduate of Starmont High School in Arlington. He was a 1989 graduate of Upper Iowa University, where he studied elementary and physical education and played football. He taught for two years in St. Ansgar public schools. He married Kathy Recker on Aug. 10, 1991, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lamont. Following their marriage he joined his wife in Spring Valley and taught and coached for the Spring Valley and then Kingsland public schools.

Wally enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his family and friends at his cabin. He was a devoted husband and dad. Over the years he coached football, track, softball and most recently he coached his son's Spring Valley Park and Rec 5th/6th grade football team. He participated as a coach, both assistant and head, for the Kingsland championship football teams of 1995 and 2002 and runner-up team in 2003. He sincerely loved every student he taught and coached.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy; daughter, Kaylee, and son, Cole, both at home; two brothers, Steve (Tiffany) Beevers of Cedar Rapids and Dan (Bev) Beevers of Manchester; his aunt, Mary Ann Dozark of Lamont; mother- and father-in-law, Karen and Jerry Recker of Lamont; one brother-in-law, Tim (Kristy) Recker of Lamont; two sisters-in-law, Connie (Mike) Euans of Calmar and Lisa Recker of London, England; and nine nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother-in-law, Jeff Recker.

Memorials may be given to the family to be used for Kaylee and Cole's college educations.

Thauwald Funeral Home in Spring Valley, Minn., is assisting the family with arrangements.