Bealah K. Studer
Marriages
Keith Studer - 1941
Obituaries
Steamboat Today - January 18, 2009
Former Steamboat Springs resident Beulah K. Studer died Jan. 9, 2009, in Atwood, Kan. She was 92.
Beulah Koda Pinneo Studer was born March 7, 1916, in Atwood, Kan., to Bert Pinneo and Josephine (Dot) Jackson Pinneo. Beulah's only sibling, Martha, joined the family in 1918, and they lived in Atwood and Herndon for more than five years, where Bert Pinneo was involved in shaping the educational system in Rawlins County. (At various times, her father taught, served as county school superintendent, started sports teams and founded the original alumni association for the high school in Atwood.) Beulah moved with her family to Salina, Kan., where she graduated from high school. Her parents' love of education proved contagious, and Beulah's academic success awarded her a full Watkins Hall scholarship to the University of Kansas. An avid KU basketball fan, she was one of the first Jayhawk "Jay Jayne" yell leaders as a sophomore and continued cheering throughout her college years. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from KU in 1937 and accepted a position at Atwood High School, where she taught English, history, Latin and physical education. Beulah loved teaching, but she aspired to study law, and was accepted to Columbia University in New York. However, a young Rawlins County man, Keith Studer, won her heart, and she married him in 1941.
The newlyweds settled and farmed on the "Studeboy Place," three miles southeast of Atwood, where six children were born in the ensuing years: Phil, Susie, Sally, Luke, Kim and Chris. Keith acquired additional land near Steamboat Springs and Isabel, S.D., and the family moved to Steamboat but continued to maintain the farm and their ties to Atwood, Kan. When Keith and Beulah retired from ranching, they spent their winters in Mesa, Ariz., and the summers in Kansas, Colorado or South Dakota, where three of their sons continued to farm and ranch. Son Phil is still living on and farming the original Studeboy Place.
A devoted wife and mother, Beulah provided her children with a wealth of opportunities in education, sports, music and travel. Her calm demeanor, non-complaining nature, daily practice of good values, reliability and willingness to venture into new realms made her a wonderful role model. She enjoyed playing bridge and other card and word games, reading, traveling, and always was willing to explore new venues, such as making Kachina dolls (more than 100), growing hydroponic vegetables in the middle of the Steamboat winter, making cheese, fermenting chokecherries into wine, performing hula and tap in her seventies or watching college basketball on television.
While raising the children and running a demanding household, Beulah also was active in the Atwood and Steamboat communities. She participated in several bridge clubs and in two parishes (Sacred Heart and Holy Name) as a member of the Altar Society and a catechism teacher. In Steamboat, she substitute-taught in the middle and high schools. She served on various boards, including the library, the Catholic church (women's deanery), 4-H, Routt County CattleWomen, and the American Association of University Women. She maintained her memberships in Mortar Board Society, Phi Beta Kappa and the University of Kansas Alumni Association her entire life.
Because of declining health, Beulah spent the last year of her life in the Good Samaritan Home in Atwood, Kan., where she experienced excellent care. She was preceded in death by her husband, Keith, who died in 1998; daughter Sally Kerstiens, who passed away in 2002; and grandson Shane Kerstiens, who passed away in 1997. She is survived by five children; 17 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren; sister Martha Petterson of Otis, Ore.; two nephews and one niece.
Her legacy is in these descendants, who all cherish her life and the many good memories she leaves with them:
Sister Martha Petterson, with Dean and PJ Petterson, all of Otis, Ore.; and Ann and Tom Amies, of Vancouver, Wash.
Phil and Sandy Studer, of Atwood, Kan.; David and Loretta Studer with Cole and Haleigh, of Atwood, Kan.; and Ashley (with three great-great-grandchildren); Mary and John Hallman with Jamisha and Trey, all of Dodge City, Kan.; Mark and Renea Studer with Blake and Sydney, all of Shawnee, Kan.
Susie and Ulrich Pelz, of Sacramento, Calif.; Christiane Pelz, of San Francisco; Melissa Pelz, of London; Jennie and Felix Maag with Max and Alexander, all of Zurich, Switzerland.
The late Sally Kerstiens, who passed away in 2002, and Chuck Kerstiens, of Isabel, S.D.; Shane Kerstiens, who passed away in 1997, with Grey, of Eagle Butte, S.D.; Jill (with two great-great-grandchildren) in Rapid City, S.D.; Kelly and Jada Kerstiens with Paige and Chauncey, all of Isabel, S.D.; and Ed Kerstiens with Koda and Kale, all of Isabel, S.D.
Luke and Janet Studer, with Emily, all of Steamboat Springs.
Kim and Dominga Studer, with Bert, Daniel, Matthew, Jacob and Joseph, all of San Diego.
Chris Studer, of Denver, with Tony, of Denver, and Annie, of Madison, Wis.
Nephew Terry Toole, of Denver.
Foster daughter Vanette and Ed Morris family, of Peoria, Ariz., with Rana and Tom Simpkin and Gwendolyn, of Huntington Beach, Calif.; and Curba and Alan Lampert, of Columbia, S.C.
The vigil service with the recitation of the rosary took place Wednesday in Atwood, Kan., at the Williams Funeral Home, and the funeral liturgy was Thursday at Sacred Heart Church. The burial followed. Mourners were invited to share in a meal served by the Altar Society in the church basement following the burial.
Donations in memory of Beulah may be given to the Rawlins County High School Alumni Association, Sacred Heart Church or another charity.
