Beulah Elaine Hutson

Beulah Elaine Hutson, 89, of Nauvoo, passed away at 8:30 A.M. Saturday, October 27, 2018, at The Madison in Ft. Madison, Iowa.

Beulah was born in the Sacred Heart Hospital in Fort Madison, Iowa, on the July 2, 1929, the only child of Valdie and Alverta Elizabeth (Hummel) Hutson.

Beulah has been a member of the Nauvoo community since age five when her parents moved into Nauvoo from Powellton where her Grandfather Hutson had been proprietor of the Powellton Garage.  Her father was disabled from rheumatoid arthritis as a young man.

Beulah’s father died in 1952 at the age of 56 and her mother died in 1986.  She is survived by a number of much loved cousins.

Beulah graduated from Nauvoo/Nauvoo Township High School in 1947 as Salutatorian.  She was recognized in her senior year as having the highest grades in the entire school.  Following graduation she attended Blackburn College, in Carlinville, Illinois, an historic community of Macoupin County located 40 miles south of Springfield.  Beulah studied journalism and was the first freshman to work on the college newspaper, The Burnian.

Following the printer’s trade was just a continuation of her work during high school in Nauvoo, where she worked for two years on the The Nauvoo Independent, a job she loved.

She also worked at the Tedford’s Grocery in Nauvoo during high school.

Her father’s health worsening, Beulah did not return to college and took a job at Sheaffer Pen in 1948.  She worked in the Sheaffer Clubhouse Dining Room until being transferred into the Personnel Department in February of 1953 to be taught group insurance information.  In 1955 she replaced the secretary of the Personnel Manager, who was resigning, but also retained the handling of the group insurance.  Later the administration of the pension program was added to the job duties.  In addition to all the above she also worked with the Sheaffer White Dot Senior’s Group, planning bingo games, trips, etc.

Beulah retired from Sheaffers in 1991 with 43 years of service.  She really liked her jobs and made many lifetime friends.

She was always a tremendously active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Nauvoo.  Beulah as an avid collector of poems and magazine and newspaper articles used in preparation of many Sunday School, Easter and Christmas programs, as well as Women’s Thanksgiving Praise Service and Christmas Tea programs for the church.  She loved to create decorations for church events, especially the Mother/Daughter Banquet.

She has filled many of the positions within the church; trustee, elder, Sunday School superintendent, Secretary-Treasurer, teacher, memorial secretary, Clerk of Sessions for over 25 collective years and President of the Women’s group.  She also filled in for Lay-Pastor Mary Hutson Boyer from time to time.  She represented the Church on the Nauvoo Food Pantry board serving as treasurer; Nauvoo Ministerial Association serving as Secretary and the Nauvoo Faith Heritage Society serving as Secretary-Treasurer until it was disbanded on March 12, 2001 and the building was sold.

Past volunteer jobs have included; treasurer of the Nauvoo Historical Society, co-chair of the Smorgasbord dining hall, President and Secretary of the V.F.W. Auxiliary and at the time of her death was a member of the Fort Madison V.F.W. Auxiliary, recorder for the Royal Neighbors, helped with the Nauvoo/Nauvoo Township Health fund drive, Treasurer of the Nauvoo Chamber of Commerce, coordinated the volunteer staff at the Uptown Tourist Center and served as a member of the Uptown Tourist Center Steering Committee, plus the brochure committee.  She also served on the Nauvoo Library Board and served as treasurer.

In accordance with her wishes the body has been cremated.  Private interment will be held in the Nauvoo City Cemetery.  Memorials may be directed to the Nauvoo First Responders.  Printy Funeral Home of Hamilton is in charge of arrangements.

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