Beverly Ruth Babb Obituary

Description: Beverly Ruth Babb Obituary... Our Heartfelt Condolences to Her Loved Ones...

Beverly Ruth Babb

December 18, 1929 - February 5, 2025

Obituary

Beverly Ruth Bishop she lived her life as if every day was to be celebrated, and she was the fireworks to make it happen. Born the eldest daughter of Colorado Senator, Dr. Neal Dow Bishop and Emma Sue (Alexander) Bishop on December 18, 1929 in La Junta, Colorado, she was 95 years of age. 

Beverly graduated from Denver’s South High School in 1947 and attended the University of Denver. She helped her mother bake fruitcakes and wrap gifts for orphanages and veterans at Christmas. She worked on Cheeseman Park plays, and grew up skating with her brother, Norm and friends on Washington Park Lake where her skill and grace brought an offer to join the Ice Capades...but just then a loveable, handsome Cowboy caught her eye, and Beverly was united in marriage with Robert Donald Fleming. They made their home in Englewood. He became a quality control engineer for Martin Marietta, and she became a loving wife and devoted mother. She sewed her own beautifully tailored clothes as well as her three children’s, always set an elegant table, and became a leader in everything from Scouting to Carnation Women’s Club to community activism.

She excelled at everything she did with an extraordinary optimism, exuberance and true care for her country and nearly everyone in it. She did have strong opinions. Bev and Bob spent time to inspire their three children to lead accomplished, successful lives with the same can-do, conscientious outlook. When Bob was transferred to Tucson for a year Bev supported her kids in swim meets and community contests where many awards were won. She and Bob enjoyed jeep excursions up the arroyos, with neighborhood kids along with their own hanging off every possible handhold. Her family often explored Mt Lemon and Sabino Canyon, and on an outing for ice cream spotted a UFO.

One day Bev saw that the Golden Fiddle Restaurant in Englewood, CO was to be torn down. Without hesitation she said, “We can move that out to the country and have a guest ranch!” So began the Fleming Family Guest Ranch, complete with horses, cows, sheep 4-H and all. While running for county commissioner, Bob and a buddy started the Elizabeth Rodeo and built the arena with some friends, so Bev and the other wives supported them with meals. Along with all of that she started clean-ups in her nearby town of Elizabeth that grew into Keep Colorado Beautiful where she won many national awards. After several years and travels to Ireland and later Turkey, the next chapter of her life began in Glen Ellen California where she volunteered at Women in Community Service in San Francisco. She quickly became their regional director, while also building a beautiful adobe home and guest houses with her new husband Jack Babb and her daughter Mary and soon Mary’s husband, Jerry. They planted a vineyard and Christmas tree farm and later had ostriches. It became one of the most popular B&Bs in the area.

After a few years back in the Denver area, Bev returned to La Junta to save the Kit Carson Hotel that her father’s cousin had worked on architecturally during the 20’s. Unfortunately grants for that project never materialized. She did however spend many years working with Clean Valley recycling and organized clean-ups for the town she loved, always attending City Council meetings and “Wake up” breakfasts, and as long as she could drive would join the guys for coffee at the Barista. She spent her many lives always working to improve life for all wherever she went, including trees, she loved trees if you’d care to plant one or some. We are so grateful to Bev’s wonderful, devoted neighbors and friends, and wish to thank all the caregivers and friends she made at Evergreen Gardens and those at Pioneer rehab. 

Beverly entered into rest February 5, 2025 at the Pioneer Health Care Center in Rocky Ford, Colorado. Bev is survived by her brother, Norman Alexander Bishop (wife Dorothy Bishop) of Bozeman, MT, her three children, Roberta “Bobbie” Fleming of Santa Fe, NM (sons Laibrook Dylan Bernstein and Mikael David Bernstein, Mary (Fleming) Kahler of La Junta, CO (husband Jerry Robert Kahler, their daughter, Cassidy Alexandra Kahler of East Point, GA); and Randolph ‘Randy’ Robert Fleming (wife Vera Kim Fleming,) their grandson Logan Fleming) of Elizabeth, CO, and their son Matthew Robert Fleming (wife Katy Fleming (4 children) of Scottsbluff, NB. Many extended well-loved family members. 

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert D. Fleming on March 10, 2006; her second husband, Jack Victor Babb on March 27, 2011, her parents; her sister, Sue Frances in early childhood, her granddaughter Jessie Fleming and grandson Kai Bernstein. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to the loving care of the Johnson-Romero Family Funeral Home. 

Services will be set for a future date to be determined.

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