Beverly "Bev" Jean Brine

Beverly “Bev” Jean (Anderson) Brine, 85, Crosslake, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at home surrounded by family.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Immaculate Heart Catholic Church, Crosslake, MN, on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 11 am with Visitation at 10 am.

Bev was born at home in a farmhouse in rural Forest Lake, Minnesota, on April 19, 1939, to parents Martha T. (Webb) Anderson and Harold Waldemar Anderson.  The lovely Anderson girls consisted of older sisters Doris and Janet, Bev, and younger sister Roberta (Berta).  When Bev was four years old, the family moved to the town of Forest Lake into her parents’ first purchased home with indoor plumbing, hot and cold running water, electricity and modern appliances.

A 1957 Forest Lake High School graduate, Bev was crowned Miss Forest Lake that year and participated in many pageant events around the state.  Bev attended the University of Minnesota and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics in 1961.  In 1959, between her sophomore and junior years of college, Bev took the train to Yellowstone National Park to work at the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center gift shop.

In June 1957, Bev went on her first date with Gerald (Gerry) Brine (FLHS class of ’56), riding a bicycle built for two and picnicking at Como Park.  Bev and Gerry were married September 9, 1961, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Forest Lake.  They have four daughters:  Elizabeth (Liz), Jennifer (Jenny), Kathryn (Katie), and Bridget.

Their first residence was in Waterville, MN, where Bev taught junior and senior high home economics while Gerry finished his college degree at Mankato State.  Over the years, Bev and Gerry lived in Columbia Heights, New Hope, Deephaven, Ideal Township, St. Paul, various locations in Crosslake, and Punta Gorda, FL.

Bev was elegant, tough, and organized.  Her sewing skills were exceptional; she won many awards for stylish clothing ensembles that she created for herself and her family.  Early in their marriage, Gerry introduced Bev to tent camping and “roughing it.”  In 1969, Bev and Gerry built an A-frame cabin east of Pine City on the Snake River.  Imagine camping in a canvas tent for two weeks without electricity or running water, framing the cabin with four young daughters, ages 2-7!  For three years starting in 1973, Bev and Gerry operated Northwest Outfitters, a sporting goods store selling camping and cross-country skiing equipment in downtown Excelsior.  Bev managed the store during the week.  Later, when Bev and Gerry purchased and ran Holly Woods Resort on the Whitefish chain of lakes (1976-1989), Bev weekly laundered and pressed all the bed sheets and cleaned all of the cabins.  After closing the resort in 1989, Bev and Gerry redeveloped the property as Lake Country Townhomes.  Much of the design and decorating was Bev’s.  Bev’s housekeeping, or what she liked to call “household engineering” skills, were impeccable.

Bev had many talents and was generous with her time for others; she taught high school and junior high home economics in the Pequot Lakes and Remer schools, served nine years as Ideal Township Treasurer, volunteered at the Pequot Lakes and Crosslake Chamber of Commerce tourism offices, taught and demonstrated microwave ovens and recipes in the early days of that technology, was a home kitchen recipe tester for General Mills, knitted hundreds of hats for children in need, sewed period supplies for school girls in Africa, listed and sold homes as a licensed realtor, was a retail sales associate and managed fabric and craft stores, and was secretary for Gerry’s law practice.

Bev and Gerry travelled the world and the US throughout their marriage.  Countries visited include Canada, England, France, Portugal, Spain, Mexico, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, the Holy Land, and, in the Fall of 2023, Ireland.  They traveled, camped or RV’d to the BWCA, Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific NW, Southwest, Midwest, New England and the southeastern US.  Much time was spent visiting family and friends when they became snowbirds several winters ago.

Bev is survived by many loved family members:  husband Gerry; daughters Elizabeth Brine (Al McVey), Jennifer (Tim) Farley, Kathryn Brine, and Bridget Brine (JD Feriancek); grandchildren McKinzie, Samuel, Aidan and Eoin McVey; Michael (Kara), Peter, and Lauren Farley; Erin (Paul) Buchmann, Jacqueline (Mike) Ryan, and Karl Brine-Doyle; and Cole Feriancek; great-grandchildren Lily, Peter and Baby Girl Buchmann; and Genevieve Farley; and sister Janet (James) Bradley.

Even in death, Bev continues her service to others by participating in the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program for the training of healthcare professionals.

Donations may be made in honor of Bev to the Masonic Cancer Center, University of MN (https://cancer.umn.edu/donate).

Bev’s entire family wishes to extend their most sincere thanks to all the great individuals at St. Croix Hospice who helped us care for Bev during her final days.  We could not have done it without you!