BeBe Davern

BeBe Elizabeth (Spencer) Davern was born on March 23, 1953, in Park Rapids, MN. She was raised by Ren and Edrie (Ottarson) Spencer and in her youth, BeBe helped her parents to raise and nurture several foster children prior to her graduation from Park Rapids High School.

Bebe married Tom Schwankl on June 9th, 1973, and they were blessed with two daughters, Katy and Tory. Later, her and her daughters moved to Alexandria, MN, where she worked as City Secretary. While holding this position, she encouraged several businesses to open in Alexandria, proudly contributing to the area’s growth. BeBe went to college to learn more about sales and marketing and quickly became very passionate about this career change. At that time, sales was predominantly made up of men and she fought for equality in the workplace at every job she had.

BeBe moved to Pequot Lakes, MN, and worked at Breezy Point Resort where she met Jim Davern. They were married on March 17, 2003, in Webster, SD. The couple enjoyed living together in St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, FL for a few years before moving back to Alexandria, MN. They retired in 2011 and in 2017 Jim was diagnosed with cancer. BeBe took care of Jim through his illness and she lost “her Jim” that same year.

BeBe had a wicked sense of humor, was not quick to judge, accepted everyone, and was very open-minded. She truly saw the beauty in everything which she instilled in her children and grandchildren. BeBe not only enjoyed playing the piano, but she was extremely talented at it as well and always had a piano in each home that she lived in over the years. She loved bees, going on walks with her dogs, Sam and Henry, spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and was known to sneak her grand-puppy, Delilah a bite of pizza off her fork when she was dog sitting. BeBe made everyone she met feel loved and in turn, everyone who met her loved her.

BeBe passed away on February 5, 2022, at Alomere Health surrounded by her girls at the age of 68. She is survived by daughters, Katy (Mark) Perhus and Tory (Joshua) Davern-Chapman; grandchildren, Shaylarae Perhus, Alicia Perhus, Brook Perhus, and Madison; Great-grandchildren, Zanika and Draven Hanson, Ezekiel and Augustus Perhus, and Leceah and Elias Trudell; brothers, Mike King and Bob Kruft; special people in her life, “Handsome Handy-Man, Dylan”, Ashley Rickert, Alicia Bergs, all of her friends around the world, and by all of the people she “adopted” over her lifetime. BeBe is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jim; sister, Julie; and brother, Barrie Spencer.

Visitation will be held Thursday, February 10, 2022 from 4-7 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. Visitation will continue at 10:00 AM Friday, February 11, 2022, at the Anderson Funeral Home with a memorial service to follow at 11:00 AM.