Carol Avis (Kendall-Steinbach) Beske 1942 – 2023

Carol Avis (Kendall-Steinbach) Beske, 80, passed away peacefully at home with family by her side on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in Virginia Beach, VA.  Carol was born on December 13, 1942, to Merlin and Marcie Kendall in Minneapolis, MN.  She was a graduate of Altus High School in Altus, OK.

Carol’s life was full and complete.  Carol grew-up as an Air Force ‘brat’ that lived in numerous locations such as MN, CA, MA, IA, Guam and OK.  Carol was setup on a blind-date (as a joke) by close friends in early 1960.  After a short courtship, Carol married the love her life, Willie Beske — guess the joke was on them!  They were married for 44-years before his passing but remained her life-long love.  They settled in Minnesota Lake, MN, where they raised their children.  Over the years, Carol had several occupations including Cosmetologist, Telex Manufacturing in Blue Earth, MN, Monitor Tech / Ward Clerk at ISJ hospital in Mankato, dog groomer and breeder, and worked with Willie at Lake Motors in Minnesota Lake, MN, for many years which they both cherished greatly.  Post retirement, Carol and Willie enjoyed being campground hosts in Garden City, MN, and Sakata State Park in Waterville, MN.  Over the years, she also provided full-time care for several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Carol cherished and loved deeply every member of her family and extended family.  She enjoyed anytime she was able to spend one-on-one with any of her grandchildren or great-grandchildren.  She was extremely proud of the service of her biological father, father, brothers, husband, children, daughter-n-law and several grandchildren that served in various branches of the military.  Though Carol had desired to serve in the Navy she and Willie chose, instead, to start their family.  Later in life, after Willie passed away, she embraced the opportunity to dedicate a portion of her life to mission work by serving a year in Macau as an ESL teacher.  After returning, she continued to serve by volunteering her time through numerous church groups at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Virginia Beach.  Throughout the years of raising her family (and beyond) she enjoyed traveling, camping, playing family games (i.e. RAGE, Yahtzee), puzzles, quilting, embroidering, crocheting, sewing, reading, spending quality time with family and friends, and …. visiting Wal-Mart.

Carol was preceded in passing by her biological father (Carl Runkel) who perished at sea while on active duty in World War II prior to her birth.  Additionally, she was preceded in passing by her sister-n-law (Delores Groskreutz), grandson (Scot Weaver), father (Merlin Kendall), mother (Marcie Kendall), beloved husband (Willie Beske), nephew (Jared McHan), brother-n-law (Adrian Beske), sister-n-law (Elaine Beske), brother-in-law (Joel McHan) and nephew (JJ McHan).

Carol is survived by four children:  Randy (Deb Lindely) Beske of Mankato, MN; Tami (Bob) Weaver of Virginia Beach, VA; Kevin (Erin Bromeland) Beske of Frost, MN; and Rob (Elizabeth Montgomery) Beske of Mooresville, NC; 13 grandchildren:  Josh (Makpal Shotbassova) Weaver of Jacksonville, FL; Jake (Shannon Killman) Weaver of Pensacola, FL; Jessica (Eric Morlan) Beske of Owatonna, MN; Sean (Chelsea Duke) Weaver of Prince George, VA; Sam (Alex) Long of Virginia Beach, VA; Brady Beske of Mankato, MN; Dylan Beske of Mankato, MN; Shauna Beske of MN; Ryan (Amber Peterson) Beske of Mooresville, NC; Rachel (Ryan Sollinger) Beske of Mankato, MN; Ely (Katie Barrett) Beske of Raleigh, NC; Autumn Beske of Rochester, MN and Jaydyn (Tyler) Bromeland of Mankato, MN; 3 siblings:  Bob (Linda) Kendall of Columbia, MO; Mary McHan of Prescott Valley, AZ; and Terry Lee (Terry) Kendall of Wells, MN; 3 siblings-n-law:  Ardella Fields of Sheboygan, WI; Luverne Beske of Mankato, MN; and Betty Sawyer of Rochester, MN; 4 nieces/nephews:  Jami Quinlan of Prescott Valley, AZ; Terra Miller of MN; Emilie (Cody) Kenworthy of Pratt, KS; and Marcie Kendall of Seattle, WA; 19 Great-Grandchildren; many Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Great-Nieces and Great-Nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, 2208 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, VA  23456, followed by a reception afterwards.  Further arrangements relating to final homecoming and burial in MN will be announced at a later time.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations in Carol and Willmar Beske’s memory to ALS.org.