January 2022

Donna Roes (Pankratz) Beavan was born in Hillsboro, Kansas on May 26, 1931. She was the first child of Dan and Nellie Pankratz of Hillsboro. She spent her first years in school in Hillsboro, Durham and Herrington before moving to Marion for High School. After the move to Marion her mother Nellie became ill, and she took over most of her care in addition to caring for younger sister Elda and brother Jay as well as the home. Her mother passed away in 1954 and Donna then went to work for Broadstreet Studio in Marion. She was employed there until she married Velber Bevan on May 4, 1956, at the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Marion. Velber worked as a signal maintainer for the Rock Island Railroad and their first home was Peabody, Kansas. His position demand moves to McPherson, Pratt, and Hutchinson, where they lived there until he retired. Together, they were always dedicated in their Faith and their Church where regular attendance and participation were a major part of their lives. Donna lived her Faith and dedicated and shared a beautiful singing voice in worship services, weddings, funerals, and other special events, she also had a wonderful gift as a pianist and shared her talent with others even when the last years of her life were difficult due to her health. She shared her talents with love which the family always felt. She and Velber shared 57 years of marriage and she cared for him in a special way, especially when his work schedule included working all hours of the day and night.