Beverly Jean Narum

Obituary for Beverly Jean (Rust) Narum
September 22, 1928 – August 24, 2022

Beverly Jean Rust was born on September 22, 1928 in Fargo North Dakota, the first child of Clarence and Marie Rust of Harwood, North Dakota. She was raised a farm girl and the oldest of 9 children. She attended a small country school during her elementary years and then Oak Grove Lutheran High School. She loved the boarding school experience and made a lot of friends there.

She originally believed a career in business was her calling but then decided to become a teacher. That was certainly the right choice, and she spent many happy years teaching children. She began her teaching career in a one room school in North Dakota where she taught all the grades, even cooking the hot lunch for her students and sweeping up after school.

It was while she was teaching second grade in Arthur, North Dakota that she met a handsome young choral teacher by the name of Robert Narum. It was surely not love at first sight, since his first act was to send a couple of high school students to take her piano while she was still playing it! After that rough start she decided to give him another chance since he seemed nice and was helpful. There was no doubt that he was very good looking. It was a good decision, and they were engaged by Christmas and married on July 24, 1953.

Bob and Bev were amazing parents to four children, fulfilling their early dream of a family with two boys and two girls.

Bob was a high school choral director at several schools before finally moving the family of six to Missoula, Montana, where he directed the choir at Sentinel High School for many years. Music would always play an important role in both of their lives, as well as the lives of their children. They joined Atonement Lutheran Church first and then St Paul in Missoula, where both were very active in congregation life.

Beverly taught preschool at Atonement Lutheran and Immanuel Lutheran Churches. She loved the 4-5 year olds in her classes and they loved her back. Some have even stayed in touch with her over all the years.
Shortly after their 50th wedding anniversary in 2003, Bob died suddenly and Bev was forced into the role of widow. Although she missed her dear Bob every day of her life, she handled her changed circumstances with the same grace that she had handled everything throughout her long life. She continued to focus on others and did whatever was in her power to help and care for them. Her times with her family were her greatest joy.
Bob and Bev’s four children gave her 11 grandchildren that she loved deeply. They have always known how special they were to her because she told them often. As many of them found their spouses and were married, she embraced the new family members with the same love and caring she had always shown, and they grew to love her too. Eventually she became great grandma to 5 and was recently told that another great grandson is on the way. She was delighted with all of them, treasured her time with them, and looked long at every photo of them.

As she entered her final year on this earth, she continued to show the grace and love that had always been a part of her. She passed away on August 24th, 2022 in her beloved little yellow house in the Rattlesnake area. The house she had lived in for 59 years and where she had raised her family. She was surrounded by her 4 children and one grandson, while the others who were far away, held her close in their hearts, as she had always held them. She is now reunited with Bob, the love of her life, and all her dear ones who have gone before her.
Bev is survived by her four children and their spouses, Marijean and Jim Darchuk, Jim and Merilu Narum, Leann and Doug Homer, and Mark and Lisa Narum. Her grandchildren include Jennifer Sorensen (Matt), Jeff Darchuk (Amanda), Robert Darchuk (Jennifer), Nic Homer (Katie), Jake Homer (Grete), Zac Homer (Tori), Max Homer (Savannah), Chris Narum, Lydia Narum, Levi Narum and Kinlee Narum. Her great grandchildren include, Xander Darchuk, Spencer Darchuk, Quinn Darchuk, Sylvi Homer, Sten Homer and a new Homer on his way. She is also survived by her sisters, Bonnie Rust, and Joanne Johnson (Wes), and her brother Dean Rust (Gwen).

At Bev’s request the funeral will take place at St Paul Lutheran church in Missoula, Montana in the spring of 2023. The exact date has not been set at this time.

The following quote, written by Steven Charleston, seems to have been written about Bev. She loved it and read it often. May her memory sing on with you as it will with her family.

“Your song will not end. The kindness you have shown, the wisdom you have shared. The love you have given. None of that will end. It will go on and on, passed like an heirloom of faith from person to person, not only of your own family, but between the countless others you have known, cared for, worked with, prayed for and respected. You have made music with your life. You have made a witness. The harmony you have embodied and the hope you have embraced will sing on after you, sing on into generations yet to come. Your vision will live in many hearts until one joyous day it joins the chorus of life that began when the Spirit first started to sing.”
-Steven Charleston

In lieu of flowers, we ask that memorial gifts be made to Partners Hospice of Missoula, St Paul Lutheran Church of Missoula, or Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp.