Beverly Ann Sperry

Bev, age 83, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2026 at Our Lady of Peace Hospice Home (St. Paul, MN), with her daughter and husband at her side. Bev leaves a legacy of humor, honesty and caring for others; her long-time commitment to education, her family, and her church. She will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her.

Born on February 19, 1943 at Lutheran Hospital (Hampton, Iowa) to Alvin and Ardyce Riis of Coulter, Iowa. Becoming a big sister when Susan was born six years later. The family later made their home on a dairy farm outside of Sheffield, Iowa. She grew up attending Zion-St. John Lutheran Church, where she was confirmed and played the organ for services, attended Luther League, and taught Bible School. After graduating from Sheffield-Chapin High School in 1961, she attended Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. She graduated in 1964 with a BA in Education. She was recruited to teach right out of school, moving to Fridley and teaching at Riverwood Elementary School and joining St. Philip’s Lutheran Church. In 1966, thanks to early “computer” dating thru the Daily at the U of M, she matched with her future husband, Chip, their first date on April Fool’s Day at a local Shakey’s Pizza. They married in June 1967; she wore a floor length, empire waisted gown she designed, that was beautifully fashioned by Ardyce, with a shoulder-length veil attached to a pillbox hat crafted by Chip. In 1968, they built their forever home in Brooklyn Center, MN, where they later welcomed daughter, Valerie, in 1974. They jointly ran a local milk delivery business in the 70’s (Twin City Dairy), with Chip as the milkman and Bev doing the books. She worked part-time for many years at the catalog & gift wrap counter at the JC Penny’s store at Brookdale Center. Bev was the director of the New Horizon’s Nursery School in Brooklyn Center in the 80’s (fondly remembered by students as Mrs. Bev); later moving on to Augsburg Fortress Publishing House, where she was a Curriculum Content Editor of Sunday and Bible School curriculum for many years. Upon taking early retirement from Augsburg, she taught ESL with Metro North to adult immigrants in the Brooklyn Center area, until she officially retired. In retirement, Bev enjoyed giving back thru sewing and cutting material for Days for Girls, the St. Philip’s Mitten and Hat Makers, and joining with Val to sew thousands of cotton masks during Covid. She enjoyed managing the cookbook department, cashier coordination, and a salad luncheon for the St. Philip’s Garage Sale; and flexing her oratory skills as a member of Story Theater, presenting dramatic readings of story books to grade schoolers in the metro area with a merry band of retirees. She was a mentor with Kinship with Chip in the 70’s and again with Val in the 2000’s. She put her gift-wrapping skills to work, volunteering with Val to wrap holiday gifts for charities for many years. She enjoyed planning and plotting out the family’s vacations over the years, showing that knowing how to read a paper map is a valuable skill. She loved a not too hard crossword or jigsaw puzzle; browsing the aisles of craft and thrift stores for a good bargain or craft project; and designing and decorating tables for the annual Festival of Tables at St. Philip’s. And most of all, she loved her family and treasured the memories of the many trips back to Iowa for visits and reunions, especially annual family Christmas gatherings.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Ardyce Riis. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Marsden “Chip” Sperry and daughter, Valerie Sperry of Brooklyn Park, MN. Also survived by sister and brother-in-law, Susan (Riis) and Larry Bruxvoort of Garner, IA; nieces & goddaughters and nephew-in-laws, Amy (Bruxvoort) and Chris Sauke of Sheffield, IA and Jana (Bruxvoort) and Mike Cashman of Belgrade, MT; great-nieces & nephews Keturah, Benji and Isaac Sauke; Courtney, Patrick and Elizabeth Cashman; sister-in-law and nieces, Jenny (Sperry) Warner of Ashburn, VA, Heidi (Warner) and Bob Stone of VA and Wendy (Warner) and Bert Flanagen of TX and their families.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2pm, with visitation at 1pm, on Saturday, May 30 at St. Philip’s Lutheran Church in Fridley (splcmn.org), reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Philip’s Food & Clothing Shelf, the St. Philip’s Endowment Fund, and Our Lady of Peace Hospice Home (St. Paul, MN).