Beverly Kreifeldt

Beverly (Bebe) Kreifeldt was born in Minnesota in 1924, to G.E. "Pete" and Nettie Peterson. She passed away at the age of 89 on May 25th, 2014, in Cody, Wyoming. Beverly's family lived in a rural area just south of Albert Lea, Minnesota, where she enjoyed skating, swimming, fishing, and playing in the woods by the lake. She attended a one-room schoolhouse and was active in the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
She had passion for horses, learned from her father, who trained, raced, and raised pacer harness horses. She spent many hours at the horse barn caring for and riding horses. Her favorite was her white mare, Vanilla. Just after WWII, she took a trip to Mexico with her parents and that adventure started her life-long interest in Mexico, Spanish culture, Southwestern art, and interior design. Beverly attended Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska; she studied home economics and continued her studies in art and design. During this time Bev met and married Newman C. Foley, a WWll Navy veteran and Civil Engineer. They had three children: Tad, Kimber, and Kirk Foley. The Foley family followed Newman's pipeline engineering career living in Bemidji, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. In 1954, Beverly married John C. Nolander, a WWII Army Air Corps veteran, in Albert Lea, Minnesota. John and his brother, Don, had a rural bulk oil distribution company, Nolander Oil in Conger. Beverly and John had many great friends in Albert Lea and their home on Fountain Lake became a gathering place for summer picnics, 4th of July celebrations, various community meetings. Beverly continued her commitment to art-oriented projects: she was involved in the startup of the Albert Lea Art Center and the Summer Art Festival. She designed posters, worked on costumes, and acted in the Albert Lea Community Theater (ACT). Beverly and John had 2 children: John, Jr., and Jason Nolander. In 1970, Beverly became the Interior Designer for Floorcrafters in Albert Lea. Success there inspired her to open an interior decorating business, Design Studio East, which she and her husband, John, operated together. In 1975, Beverly moved to Green Valley, Arizona, and became an Interior Designer for Fairfield Corporation, furnishing model home interiors and contracting turnkey interior design. Beverly opened Design Studio West in 1978 in Tubac, Arizona. She loved to travel and enjoyed many trips in her Avion trailer to the beaches and mountains of Sonora, Mexico. In 1991, she married Len Kreifeldt. Len passed away in 1995.
In 1996, Bev began to spend summers in Cody, Wyoming, with her daughter, Kimber. There, she was very active volunteering and "greeting" at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. She'd don her best Western outfit, brightly colored cowboy boots, and welcome visitors with a great smile and a big "Howdy Partner!"
In April 2007, as age and memory issues progressed, Beverly moved from Green Valley, Arizona, to Cody and had several good years at Absaroka Assisted Living. She moved into the West Park Hospital Long Term Care center in August 2010. She was her own person—with her unique style, marvelous dangly earrings, and multiple areas of interest. Anyone who met her knew she was passionate about the arts and the West. Beverly was never one to follow the crowd—she made and followed her own trail. Beverly is survived by her children: Tad Foley (Robin) from Australia; Kimber (Alan) Swenson from Cody, Wyoming; Kirk Foley from Albert Lea, Minnesota; John (Caroline) Nolander from Hereford, Arizona; Jason (Leslie) Nolander from Phoenix, Arizona. Also surviving are ten grandchildren: Benjamin, Casey, and Maida (Fortune) Swenson; Jessica (Jordan), Matt, and Peter Foley; and Karl and Patrick Foley; Leah and Audrey Nolander; and twelve great grandchildren: Les and Gene Jordan; Madison and Drew Foley; Hunter and Mia Foley; Noah, Luke, and Ellie Swenson; Christopher Swenson; and Olivia and Teya Fortune.
A memorial service will be held November 4, 2014, 1 p.m. at Bonnerup Funeral Home, Albert Lea, Minnesota. Following the memorial service and fellowship, interment will take place at Graceland Cemetery. Memorials may be sent, in Beverly's name, to the Humane Society of Freeborn County.