Beverly Jean Young

Beverly J. Young was the kind of mother and grandmother who measured her life by the people she loved. A gifted pianist, a loyal friend at the Mahjong table, and the loudest fan in the stands for her grandchildren’s games, she found her greatest happiness simply being present for the people who mattered most. Beverly J. Young, lovingly known as “Bev” and sometimes “Bennie” by her sister, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family. Bev was born February 16, 1943, in Dayton, Ohio, and grew up in Seattle and Bremerton, Washington. She was the daughter of Eugene Thomas and Elna (Monstad) Thomas. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her beloved sister, Karen Kalberg. Her grandparents were John and Bessie Thomas and Magnus and Anne Monstad. She graduated from West High School in Bremerton, Washington, Class of 1961, where she was recognized as a Top 35 honor student and participated in Pep Club, Girls Club, and the Chamber of Commerce program. She later attended Western Washington University from 1961 to 1964. In 1970, Bev married Jim Young, and together they built a family that would remain the center of her life. Though they later divorced in 1995, the love for their children and family always remained strong. Bev dedicated much of her professional life to public service through the Veterans Administration, where she worked from 1967–1972 and again from 1990–2011, serving a total of 28 years in records management administration. Her work reflected the reliability, diligence, and quiet professionalism that defined her life. Outside of work, Bev had a lifelong love of music and was a classical pianist. She enjoyed playing Mahjong with friends and was a devoted fan of the Seattle Seahawks. Her musical tastes also included the timeless voices of Elvis Presley and Neil Diamond, whose songs were often part of the soundtrack of her life. But nothing brought her more joy than watching her grandchildren play sports and participate in their activities. Being present for those moments meant everything to her. Bev is survived by her children, Jason Young (Coni), Josh Young (Lindsey), Jeremy Young, and Rebecca Kuplas; her beloved grandchildren Madeleine, Oliver, Olivia, Drayden, Jackson, Gia, and Jimmy, who brought her endless pride and joy; her brother-in-law Arthur Kalberg; her nephew Kevin Kalberg (Tammy); and her niece Kaaren McMaster (Matt). Her family will remember her for her kindness, her steady presence, and the deep love she had for her children and grandchildren. Those who knew her will carry her memory forward in the stories they tell, the music she loved, and the family she helped build. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation http://www.info-komen.org/goto/Beverly_J_Young or Chemically Dependent Anonymous (www.cdaweb.org), causes meaningful to her family. Final words from her son: We will miss her more than words can ever say, but the love she gave us, the lessons she taught us, and the family she built will stay with us for the rest of our lives. And if you hear thunder rolling through the sky someday, don’t worry — that’s probably just Mom arriving in Valhalla, reunited with her sister Karen and my Dad, already giving them a hard time and reminding them she’s back in charge. Because the truth is, you never really lose someone like Mom — she just moves into every memory that still makes us smile.

Beverly Jean Young

February 16, 1943 - February 18, 2026