Madame Bevington

Erna Bevington

Madame Bevington, longtime French teacher and one of the most memorable characters of Lincoln High, has passed away at 97 years of age. 

Erna Christine Bevington was born March 19, 1913 in Grant Township near Clear Lake, Iowa. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m., on Wednesday, January 5, 2011, at Dunn’s Chapel, with a private burial in Clear Lake, Iowa. She attended Clear lake public schools, Mason City Junior College, and received B.A. and M.A. degrees from the State University of Iowa, with graduate work at Grenoble, France, Drake University, Coe College, and Iowa State University. In 1978, she retired as the head of the foreign language department at Lincoln High School after 19 years of teaching.

Over the years, she taught journalism, Latin, dramatics, as well as French and English. She especially loved teaching teenagers, When she was not teaching or being a full time mother busy with her son’s sports activities, she utilized her other skills such as working as a clerk/stenographer for the U.S. government during World War II.

She married Bruce Bevington in 1942. They had one adopted son, Bruce.

After retiring, she travelled extensively all across the world. She did volunteer work for the Red Cross as well as helped with the Festival of Trees for many years.

She was a member of the Wakonda Christian Church, Phi Beta Kappa, Delta Kappa Gamma, Delta Delta Delta, Quill and Scroll, Des Moines Mutual Duplicate Bridge Club, Retired Teachers Association, as well as many other educational and professional associations. She was active in many groups holding numerous offices of responsibility.

Loving all animals, she was especially fond of dogs, the Animal Rescue League being one of her favorite of the many charities she contributed to.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James Peter and Anna Hansen, James Peter Hansen; her brother; and her son, Bruce. She is survived by her grandchildren, Mary (John) Ralls of Martensdale; Dawn (Gaylyn) Brown of Spring Hill, FL, and Christopher Bruce Bevington of Albany, GA.; as well as seven great-grandchildren; two nephews; one niece, and one cousin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to any charity of the donor’s choice; to Wakonda Christian Church, or to Wesley Acres Good Samaritan Fund.