Beulah O. Sept

Beulah O. Sept, 88, of Missoula, formerly long-time resident of Polson, passed away peacefully Saturday, Feb. 8, surrounded by her loving family. At the time of her passing, Beulah was under the compassionate care of the staff at Village Health Care Center where she was recuperating after a hospital stay.    

Beulah was born March 27, 1925 in Woodward, Iowa, the daughter of Blanche and Roy Blanchard. She was raised in Livingston, Mont. and graduated from Park County High School in 1943.

While working for the Army Corp of Engineers and then for the Bureau of Reclamation in Fort Peck, she met Alton Sept, who worked for the Bureau of Reclamation as an electrical engineer. They married in Livingston, August 26, 1950, and lived in Fort Peck until January 1952.  At that time they moved to Polson, where Al was employed as the power superintendent of the Flathead Irrigation Project Power System. There they raised their two children, Jerry and Kathy, and made many lifelong friends.

After moving to Polson, Beulah enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom. Forever a worker and community-minded woman, she was an active member of the Polson Jayceens, holding the position of State Treasurer.  She was a Cub Scout den mother for years — even before Jerry started the Scouts. Beulah served as the President of the Women’s Golf Association in Polson in the early 1950s, and her bowling team won the state B tournament in the ‘60s. She was a member of bridge clubs throughout her life in Polson and enjoyed many afternoons and evenings playing competitive, friendly games of bridge.

Active in the Methodist Church, she was a volunteer secretary during Paul Ashbrook’s ministerial term and taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years, and was a Camp Fire leader as well. In the late ‘60s, Beulah and Al moved to the Presbyterian Church where she enjoyed many years of service in the church community and was famous for her cookies and sewing projects for the church bazaars. In the 1970s Beulah and Al purchased a pool table and had a pool group supper club which gave her many hours of fun with their friends. Beulah and Al enjoyed the outdoors and spent a lot of time in the Swan Valley. They purchased an old homestead on the Swan River in 1963, and worked tirelessly and joyously to restore the cabin and barn and improve their land. Beulah had wonderful times there with family and friends. Together Al and Beulah created a retreat for the entire family, which grandchildren and great-grandchildren now cherish.

Beulah was known throughout her life as an extraordinary seamstress. In the years that they lived up Hellroaring Creek on the East Shore of Flathead Lake, she would set up her sewing machine in the living room. When the family moved to town on Hillcrest Drive, she had a room of her own for her sewing, where she sewed a variety of items, including clothes for her family. She taught sewing lessons for a time in Polson and would graciously do alterations for friends. In her later years she became a fabulous quilter. Her talent for sewing astounded all, and everyone would cherish a handmade gift from Beulah. Sewing was a hobby she has shared throughout her life with her friends, her daughter, and granddaughters.

In 1970, Beulah went to work at Security State Bank and was a member of the Polson Soroptomists during her tenure there.

She retired in 1984 and for the next 20 years Beulah and Al spent their winter months in their RV traveling throughout the sunny southwest and Mexico with some extended trips to Alaska and the eastern and southern states.

They sold their RV in 2005 and purchased a park model at Sun Vista Resort in Yuma, Ariz. They made many friends there, and Beulah enjoyed dancing, playing bridge, quilting, going to flea markets and frequent trips to Mexico.

In June 2012, they sold the family home in Polson and moved to Missoula to be closer to family. They purchased a beautiful home in Linda Vista and were busy making it their own.

Beulah is survived by her loving husband Al, her son Jerry Sept and his wife Sandee of Helena, and daughter Kathy Devlin and her husband Paul of Missoula. She adored her four grandchildren, Dr. Jennifer Hall and her husband Rick of Missoula, Megann Sept of San Francisco, Ryan Sept of Helena, and Zoe Devlin of Missoula. She was blessed to have two beautiful great grandchildren, Madelyn and Meredith Hall of Missoula.

Beulah was a well-loved woman, grateful for her wonderful life, and a true and caring friend who will be missed by all who knew her.

A celebration of Beulah’s life will be held Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 11:00 at the First Presbyterian Church in Polson. A private graveside service will be held in Missoula at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery.

Memorials can be made in Beulah’s name to an area food bank or the YWCA of Missoula.