Beverly J. “Bev” Christenson Hunt passed away on September 4, 2026, shortly after celebrating her 100th birthday. A lifelong resident of the Fremont and Newaygo area, Beverly lived a remarkable century filled with family, learning, laughter, and love.

Beverly was born on August 13, 1926, in Newaygo, Michigan, to Walter and Ethel Leona Christenson. Her father’s family operated a general store in Newaygo, and the family later moved to a farm north of Fremont. Beverly attended Fremont High School, where, as a sophomore, she met Burr Hunt, who was a senior.

After turning 18, Burr enlisted in the United States Army and served during World War II. Beverly and Burr were married in Fremont on June 10, 1945. Their marriage would span 70 years and a lifetime of raising a family, working, and growing old together. Even after Burr’s death in 2015, he remained a deeply important part of Beverly’s life and story.

Beverly valued education and never stopped learning. She attended Western Michigan University, studying Home Economics and Nutrition with a minor in Literature, and later continued her education. Her love of books eventually became an important part of her life’s work. When her son David was young, Beverly began volunteering at the Fremont Public Library. What began as volunteer service became a career that lasted 22 years.

Her love of reading continued long after retirement. Even at 100, Beverly remained an avid reader, enjoying both fiction and nonfiction and maintaining a genuine curiosity about the world around her. She was always learning, always interested, and always ready to keep her mind active.

Beverly believed in keeping going and keeping moving, and she lived that way throughout her life. She remained active and fit well into her later years and took pride in looking her best. She loved clothing and fashion and always wanted to be in style. Age was never a reason for Beverly to stop enjoying life or caring about the things she loved. When asked upon reaching 100 what she believed contributed to her long life, Beverly mentioned eating nutritiously, exercising, and praying. Then, reconsidering the order, she added, “Maybe prayer should be first.”

Above all, Beverly loved her family. She and Burr raised three children: Marcia Schwartz, whose husband, Bob, is deceased; Wendy Sellers and her husband, Reggie; and David Hunt and his wife, Jill.

Her family grew to include her grandchildren, Jeff Sellers and his wife, Bryn, and Trisha Smith and her husband, Steve; step-grandson, Clint Storms; great-grandchildren, Ashley Milchling, Brady Smith, Blake Smith, Lacey McConomy, Cole Sellers, and Carson Sellers; and great-great-grandchildren, Lucas, Sophia, and Levi.

Beverly was simply fun to be with. She was funny, loved to laugh, and brought joy to the people around her. She stayed active, kept up with the times, and never lost her desire to learn something new. Most of all, her family always knew how deeply they were loved.

Few people are given a full century of life, and Beverly truly lived hers. Her 100 years carried her from a childhood in small-town Michigan, through the Great Depression and World War II, through 70 years of marriage, the raising of three children, a career surrounded by books, and the joy of watching her family grow through four generations after her.

Her family will carry the love, laughter, strength, and joy that made Beverly so very special to all who knew and loved her.

A Celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, September 18, 2026 at Fremont United Methodist Church 351 Butterfield Street Fremont. Visitation will take place 1 hour prior to the start of the service.