Beverly Jane Gillespie

Beverly Jane Gillespie, 93, Graceville, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Grace Home in Graceville.

A Celebration of Life for Jane will be held Friday, July 1, 2022, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Memorial Building in Clinton, MN. The family will be gathering for a short prayer service and sharing favorite memories, followed by a supper. Please join us for a meal and visiting in Jane's honor.

Beverly Jane was born on May 17, 1928, on the farm in Stevens County, MN, to Harry and Emmy (Anderson) Anderson. She grew up on a farm south of Chokio, MN, where she attended rural Chokio District 48 for eight years, then two years of high school.

On July 10, 1946, Jane was united in marriage to Gordon "Mandy" James Gillespie. Beginning their married life, Jane was a farm wife and homemaker south of Chokio. In 1955 they bought and moved to a farm seven miles east of Clinton. She remained there until 1981 when they built their home in Clinton. She spent some time at the Clinton Care Center until making her home at the Grace Home in Graceville.

Jane was baptized on December 21, 1942, and confirmed on May 28, 1944, at the Artichoke Lutheran Church. She was a very active member of Bethany Lutheran Church in rural Clinton, then Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Graceville, and most recently at Trinity Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Johnson, MN.

Jane stayed home after her second year of high school to help her mother care and cook for her younger siblings. She always had a big garden and canned many fruits, vegetables, and jellies, and raised many chickens for producing eggs and fryer chickens. She was well known for her caramel rolls, fresh bread, and fried chicken dinners. She and Mandy hosted many family gatherings for both the Anderson and Gillespie families, and of course the annual Gillespie Deer Hunting weekend. She always made everyone young or old, feel very welcome into her home.

Jane loved to sew and embroider, making many quilts for her children, baby quilts for her grandchildren, and many other family members having babies. She very much enjoyed helping care for her grandchildren and of course loved all their visits,

Jane and Mandy enjoyed traveling, including a trip to Alaska over the Alaskan Highway which Mandy had a part in building during WWII. They also attended a lot of Army Reunions all over the United States, as Jane became friends with the wives of the Army buddies. They made a winter trek with her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Edna and Howard Walker, to Florida. They also took bus trips, including Branson, MO, traveling with cousins Paul and Mildred Steins.

Jane is survived by her children, Dennis (Charlette) Gillespie of Richfield, MN, Sharon (Dennis) Eastman of Willmar, MN, and Terry (Sandy) Gillespie of Clinton. Grandchildren, John Gillespie, Amy (David) Rosario, Britta Cadotte, Jena (Nick) Hillenbrand, Brandi (Jeremy) Winter, and Chad (Beth) Gillespie. Great-grandchildren, Rebecca, Jennifer, Michael, Spencer Rosario. Triston (Jadyn) Hillebrand, Keianna Hillenbrand; Addison and Shelby Cadotte; Porter, Maleah, Prim, Mac and Jayden Winter; Scarlett, Finn and Huck Gillespie. Siblings, Susan Wohlers of Graceville, and Bonnie (Tommy) Connelly of Kentucky; sister-in-law, Barb Anderson of Ortonville; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jane was preceded in death by her husband Gordon "Mandy" in 2003; her parents and parents-in-law; brothers, Norman, Delhart, Dewillis, Jerry, Richard, and Larry; sister, Joyce Gillespie; brothers-in-law, Don, Ernest, Leonard, Art, and Dale Gillespie, and Benny Wohlers; and sisters-in-law, Edna Walker, Vera Kraayenbrink, Ina Gillespie, Sadie Rassmussen, Elvira Anderson, Connie Kay Anderson, and Wilma Anderson.