Beth Marie Young

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Beth Marie Young, 68, of Thompson, North Dakota, died at home on June 1st, 2026. Beth was born in Eau Claire, WI on November 13, 1957, to Kenneth and Lois Sundby. She grew up on a dairy farm in Ridgeland, WI, in a family filled with strong faith and love for Christ. She attended Hillcrest Lutheran Brethren High School (a boarding school) in Fergus Falls, MN. This is where she met the love of her life, David Young. They were joined in marriage on October 7th, 1978. Beth joked that, in marrying Dave, she would be “Forever Young.” They raised two children together, Michelle (Cullen) and Jennifer (Grandouiller).

Beth was a dedicated stay-at-home mom for many years, and a homemaker who was completely devoted to her children and husband. After her daughters were in school, she then began to share her love with the children at Belmont Baby Care for several years, and later at South Middle School as a paraeducator. She cared for some of the students with the most severe disabilities there, and it was never out of a sense of duty, but rather, with a deep love for those children.

When she became a grandmother at 42, she felt that she was too young to be called “grandma”, so she came up with the nickname Bema (joining the BE from Beth, and MA from her middle name, Marie). “Bema” created an atmosphere of joy, laughter, generosity, and fun for her grandchildren. When they were little, she showered them in endless pancakes and bacon, trips to the playground, gifts of new toys and clothes, silly songs she would make up, bedtime stories, and baths that were WAY more fun than when the parents gave them. As they grew up, Beth showed up at every possible sports event, concert/recital, and theater production, and she always cheered the hardest. She had the loudest whistle we’ve ever heard, and sometimes, she even used a megaphone to ensure you could hear HER cheering you on (until she got them banned from track meets!)

She was endlessly proud of both her daughters, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren, and was the most attentive and fun babysitter that they could have asked for. Most summers, she would take her grandkids for a week at her house, and give them “the time of their lives”—making countless memories with the kids, with the hope that their parents could also have a break, or finish home projects without distraction. She also showed up to help her daughters as much as possible, whenever a new baby was born; to cook, clean, and provide snuggles and entertainment for the bigger kids. She also cherished her sons-in-law as deeply as her own children.

Beth loved to hunt with family members. Because of her ability to spot the deer better than anyone else, and she often got them with just one shot, she earned the nicknames “eagle eyes” and “one-shot Bema”. In 2024, she achieved her dream of shooting a cow elk, and she shot multiple deer over the years.

She loved gardening, growing food for her family, and surrounding herself with flowers. She had a love for tending to the beauty of God’s creation. Even when she went out of town, she made sure that the bird feeder was refilled; she saw, and cared for, the sparrows—just as the Lord does.

Spending time at the lake cabin was one of her favorite pastimes in the summer. She always ensured that the children and grandchildren were well-fed, with plenty of fun things to do; and she enjoyed watching the sunsets, going on nature walks, and listening to the loons.

She volunteered in countless ways; through VBS, good news clubs and camps, Awana, Sunday School, 4-H, the juvenile justice ministry, hosting tables for fundraisers, and probably so many ways we will never fully know about. She would frequently open her home to host others, and was always known to “treat” people whenever she could; whether that was through baking, buying your favorite items, or taking you out somewhere.

Her greatest pleasure was being with her loved ones (both friends and family), while also living a life of joyful service and generosity to everyone within her reach. She was an incredible woman of encouragement, with Dave often saying that “encouraging people is her full-time job.” She would write the most love-filled letters to uplift, comfort, and support those around her. She was deeply committed to her prayer “Sisters” from her prayer group, as she called them, and if you knew Beth at all, there’s no doubt you were once in her prayers.

Beth could light up the room with her smile, and her personality brought so much joy and laughter to each situation. She loved fiercely, lived life to the fullest, and made people feel special and seen. Because of the incredible woman that she was, we already miss her so deeply, and can feel the void without her. We are thankful for the hope of salvation, and look forward to seeing her again someday!

Beth is survived by her mother, four siblings and their spouses, her husband Dave, two daughters and their spouses, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and three more sweet babies coming soon. 

Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Amundson Funeral Home with a Service of Remembrance at 7:00 p.m. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at Faith Evangelical Free Church, Grand Forks, North Dakota.