Todd Borger submitted this Letter to the Editor and Obituary notice regarding his mother, Beverly. She passed away Saturday, November 11 2023.
Her parents were Jim and Dorothy Bush, who lived in the Morrison, IL, area their entire lives. My mother grew up in Morrison, attending Ebenezer Reformed Church, along with her two brothers, David Bush (passed) and Art Bush (lives in Dubuque, IA.) I grew up in Illinois, just not in Morrison, and moved to Colorado in 1991. My parents moved to Colorado in 2004.
They had another son, Tim, who passed away in infancy and is buried in Morrison, next to my mother’s parents, Jim and Dorothy Bush.
The Obituary notice follows.
Beverly Joyce Borger (1942 – 2023)
Our beautiful mother, Beverly Joyce Borger, surrounded by the love of her family, was peacefully welcomed into the arms of her Lord and Savior on November 11, 2023, after a brief illness. She was 81 years old and lived in Loveland, CO.
Bev was born September 4, 1942, in Morrison, IL, to James and Dorothy Bush (Huizenga.) ColorsdoShe was educated at Southside Elementary, Hiddleson School, and was a Valedictorian at Morrison High School during her early years. As a girl she had ambitions of becoming a missionary, after hearing many missionaries speak in her church, and was deeply impacted by the profound love of her parents and the strong Christian example they embodied. After High School she attended Central College in Pella, IA, and later worked as an Elementary School Teacher for four years in Minburn, IA. During a summer at Central College, she volunteered with her church in Colorado outreach. There, she and others ministered to the migrant workers’ children, through daytime Christian activities, using the Spanish she learned in High School and College. Bev drove the Colorado back roads of Weld County between Eaton and Fort Lupton, gathering and returning the children daily, while sleeping in the basement of the United Methodist Church in Eaton. Her life of service completed a wonderful circle in Colorado.
It was while Mom was a student at Central College that she met the love of her life, Jerry Borger. She was a Junior; he was a teacher in Pella. Dad popped the question just two months after dating. They spent the next year dreaming about their future together, until they married on July 24, 1964. Mom and Dad went on to love and raise a son and daughter, and sadly buried a second son during his infancy, due to complications from Down’s syndrome. They were loving and devoted to each other for 60 years, and we often witnessed them praying together hand and hand before turning in at night. In her later years, Mom delighted in being a grandmother to 11 precious grandchildren and a granddaughter-in-law.
Beverly found great joy in loving, praying, and supporting her husband, children, grandchildren, extended family, and friends. Her walk as a Christ follower was authentic, humble, grace-filled, and lovely. She sought to glorify the Lord in all she did, and if you were blessed enough to know her, you would love her, too. She was a gifted cook; her favorite vacation spot was wherever family was; blue was her favorite color; she never met a hot fudge sundae that she didn’t like.
On Mom’s final day before she grew ill, we found her praying from her well-worn prayer journal. She was truly a good and faithful servant all the blessing-filled days of her life.
Beverly is survived by her husband, Jerry Borger of Loveland; son Todd Borger (Marianne) of Loveland; daughter Tamara Pettit (Matthew) of Kansas City, MO; 11 grandchildren, Joshua, Garrett (Liz), Hope, Braden, Brielle, Lexa, Benjamin, Danielle, Colton, Brooke, and Caleb; brother, Arthur Bush (Sarah) of Dubuque, IA; nieces, Cali Bush, Sacha Bush, Emily Bush (Marcus); nephew, Nathan Bush.
Beverly is preceded in death by her father, James Bush; mother, Dorothy Bush; infant son, Timothy James Borger; brother, Dave Bush.
A Celebration of Beverly’s Life will be held Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., at Grace Evangelical Free Church, 2415 Lake Park Drive, Longmont, CO. A light lunch will be served following the service.
As Beverly adored children, please consider sending memorial donations to: Grace Church Youth Room, Grace Evangelical Free Church, 2415 Lake Park Drive, Longmont, CO 80503.