Beverly Jean (Newman) Laabs

Beverly (Bev) Laabs, age 76, of Fairhaven died from kidney failure at her home on Sunday, August 19, 2018 surrounded by her four children.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 24, 2018 at Concordia Lutheran Church, Fairhaven with Rev. Timothy Nerud officiating. Burial will follow at Concordia Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Dingmann Funeral Chapel, Kimball and one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. A prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.

Beverly Jean (Newman) Laabs was born December 12, 1941 in St. Cloud, Minnesota to Ralph and Virginia (Randall) Newman. Bev grew up in South Haven, and graduated with the Annandale High School Class of 1959. She married the love of her life, Clarence “Kenny” Laabs on September 9, 1961 at Concordia Lutheran Church. Together they had four children, Randy, Ricky, Sandy and Patty. Bev ran Bev’s Hilltop Salon out of her home for over 50 years. Bev was also a nanny for Dr. James and Kris Smith for 13 years. She loved and cared for DJ and Viki like they were her own children. In addition to running the beauty shop out of her home, Bev also worked at the Annandale Care Center Beauty Shop for several years.

Bev was a mom to everyone as her children were growing up. There was always a pick-up game of football happening in the “field,” a group of kids hanging out on their bicycles, or a car being tinkered with at the Laabs’ home. Holidays brought a special joy to Bev, with Christmas being her favorite. While she loved the sights and smells that came along with Christmas, she was most fond of it for bringing her family together to celebrate. She loved to bake and would never let anyone leave her house hungry. Bev also loved flowers and took great pride in the flower gardens at her home. But, most of all Bev took pride in her family. She loved each of her children and grandchildren beyond words.

Bev is survived by her sons, Randy (Marguerite) of South Haven and Ricky (Marilyn) of Watkins; daughters, Sandy (Jerry) Kelly of Kimball and Patty (Eric) Hanson of Sartell; 12 grandchildren, Anthony, Aaron (Kayla), Adam, Ariel, Shawn, Heidi and Jimmy Laabs , Eric, Ryan and Gracie Lantto, and Haley and Natalie Hanson; four great grandchildren, Layla, Tucker, Cheyenne and Kinsley ; sister and brother, Karen (Dean) Mozena of Kimball and Daryl Newman of St. Cloud; and her special companion, her cat, Tootie. She is preceded in death by her husband, Clarence, parents Ralph and Virginia, brother Ronald, and sister-in-law Jeanne.

A special Thank You to CentraCare Hospice staff nurses, especially Jim and Kayla, and to Rev. David Milz of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kimball. Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial and Cremation Services of Kimball.

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