Beryl Arlene Covalt

Beryl Arlene Montgomery Covalt was born August 29, 1926 on the farm in rural Sheridan County and attended schools in the area through 8th grade. At the young age of 14 Beryl met the love of her life, Roy Isaac Covalt. They dated for 6 months and had been out dancing the evening of June 15, 1941 when they decided this was the day, so they walked across the rain swollen Solomon river on a plank, woke the preacher at the Methodist parsonage and were married, thus beginning their adventures that would last for almost 65 years. To this union was born three daughters and two sons. Shortly after their marriage Roy was drafted into the Army and sent to Florida for six months before being sent to the Southwest Pacific. Beryl went to join him in Florida, traveling by train with her infant daughter, Beverely. She told the story of how crowded the trains were with military troops and as she struggled to board the train with her baby and luggage, one of the troops lifted the baby over his head and told her to follow him onto the train. She made the same trip back to Kansas when Roy was sent overseas. Beryl’s life was spent as a homemaker. She farmed alongside Roy, driving tractor, milking cows, raising chickens and always a large garden to preserve for the family. She was known for her great cooking and especially her homemade bread and rolls. No holiday was complete without Beryl’s rolls. She was an excellent seamstress and made school clothes for all five of her children as well as wedding dresses for her 3 girls and one daughter-in-law and formal dress shirts for the 2 boys. Carla was in California at the time Beryl made her wedding dress and Judy was in Arkansas when she made hers, still they fit perfectly, as if there had been multiple fittings. Beryl enjoyed embroidery and crocheting. She blessed most all her children and grandchildren with the legacy of embroidered tea towels and pillow cases or crocheted doilies. Beryl enjoyed fishing with Roy and their boys, Rick and Galen. She was always a trooper when it came to camping with them on the Solomon River, running trot lines at midnight and camping under a bridge on Roy’s old army cots. There was never anything better than Moms bacon and eggs cooked over the camp fire. Playing cards was a favorite activity for Beryl all her life. She and Roy taught their children to play pinochle at an early age and family holiday gatherings were often spent playing cards, 8 handed double deck. Things got a little wild. One of Beryl’s granddaughter in laws always wanted to sit to the left of Beryl to play pinochle because otherwise Beryl would always out bid her – and make it. In their later years Beryl and Roy enjoyed being members of the Sunflower Polka Club and loved traveling around the area to dances meeting new people and making new friends. They also took bus tours into Colorado, the Southeast and Southwest parts of the US as well as to Montana, Indiana and Michigan. After Roy died Beryl volunteered at the Swap Shop on Mondays where she thoroughly enjoyed not only seeing people she had known most of her life but also meeting and making new friends. Beryl did enjoy a good visit. The Studley United Methodist Church and Beryl’s solid personal beliefs were a true rock to her existence. She started her days with scripture and prayer before doing anything else. She was always involved in church activities, whether teaching Sunday/Bible school, serving dinners or serving on parish committees. She was the Studley church treasurer for more than 20 years. Beryl was very proud of her family and enjoyed spending time with them. She was asked recently about her favorite time of the year. She responded that it was Christmas because that was when her children returned home and brought their babies. About two years ago Beryl realized that she was getting to the point she couldn’t continue to live by herself and was looking into assisted living when she became quite ill and ended up in the hospital. From there she reluctantly moved to Long Term Care only to discover that she had found a whole new family. She was content, received excellent care and loved them in return. Beryl is survived by three daughters, Beverely Haley and husband Robert of Salina, KS, Carla Chadwick and husband Robert of Oakley, KS, Judy Connelly and husband Wayne of Cabot, AR, and two sons, Rick Covalt and wife Natalia of Lees Summit, MO and Galen Covalt and wife Kathy of Hill City, KS. She is also survived by ten Grandchildren, Teresa Mauk, Troy Mauk, Traci Hildebrand, Melissa Kurtz, Eric Chadwick, Amanda Casner, Jason Connelly, Michael Connelly, Victoria Shevchenko, Jennifer Steinmetz; 16 Great Grandchildren, Taylor Gordon, Samantha Cook, Grant Gordon, Matthew Gordon, Jacob Gordon, Ashley Hildebrand, Daniel Hildebrand, Meredith Kurtz, Elliot Kurtz, Ian Chadwick, Taryn Chadwick, Natalie Casner, Megan Connelly, Nicholas Connelly, Logan Connelly and Alex Shevchenko; and one Great Great Grandson, Everett Cook. Beryl was pre-deceased by her husband, Roy Covalt, parents Herb and Leda Montgomery, sisters, Ruby Bangle and Margaret Husted and brother Raymond Montgomery. Beryl was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who strived to provide her family with the tools they needed to be successful, loving and responsible individuals. Along the way she managed, to quote her granddaughter, to maintain a sense of humor about life. Beryl will be sorely missed by all of her family and friends.