Beth Aklestad

Beth Aklestad age 86 passed away peacefully ApriLl8, 2025 at home

surrounded by her husband and family. Beth was born October 30, 1938 to Ed

and Neoma Thompson. She was the third child of four children, Ed Jr.,

Margaret, Beth and Kathy. Upon graduating from Shelby High School as her

senior class salutatorian she attended a semester of college in Havre taking

up teaching. At the end of her first semester, she came home and in March of

1957 at age 19 she married Gary Aklestad and made their home on the farm

north of Galata and remained farming for 41 years, Beth enjoyed gardening,

flowers, puttering around the yard and riding bicycles. She was modest,

humble, soft-spoken and had a very kind disposition. A few months before

she passed, with a twinkle in her eye and a smirk on her face she said she

remembered seeing Gary at the Shelby swimming pool and was attracted to how

muscular he was. Beth and Gary had 3 daughters, Pamela, Gayle (Tim) and

Becky. In 1998 she and Gary retired from farming and moved to Shelby and

spent winters in Arizona where she enjoyed the next 25 years playing cards

with neighbors, doing ceramic paintings, weekly bible studies and 5:00 o'clock gatherings with friends and neighbors for hors d’oeuvres and toddies.

Beth was a member of the United Methodist Church, Galata Club, Eastern

Star, The Red Hatters and Legislative wives.

Beth is survived by her husband of 68 years, Gary; her three daughters, Pamela, Gayle (Tim), and Becky; 6 grandchildren. Bradley, Dustin, Cody, Jessica, Erin and Connor; along with 6 Great Grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Neoma Thompson; brother, Ed Jr.; and sister, Margaret La Jambe.

There will be a great loss in our hearts as we mourn the passing of our wife, mother, grandma and great grandma. Beth so loved us all. She loved family.

As per her request, no services will be held, A private spreading of ashes will

take place at a later date.