Beverly Joyce Kilmer

Beverly “Joyce” Kilmer

Dec. 04, 1946 – Sept. 27, 2023

Beverly “Joyce” Kilmer went home to the loving arms of her Heavenly Father Sept. 27^th 2023.  

Joyce was born December 4, 1946 in Butte MT to Elsworth (Al) and Dorothy Kilmer.  She attended Butte schools graduating from Butte High School.  She graduated from Rocky Mountain College with a degree in education. Joyce’s joys and passions were her faith, education, family, friends, animals (especially dogs) and music. Joyce was very musically inclined and played many instruments including the piano, guitar, clarinet, and oboe but her love was always the piano. She taught elementary school at Roosevelt Elementary in Pomona, CA for 36 years before retiring. Teaching was her passion, she loved her students and helping them grow. She also, along with teaching buddy, Jean Warrick lead the Roosevelt Glee Club for over 20 years. She always made it clear that she lived in California but Montana would always be her “home”. She spent most summers and Christmas holidays “Home” in Montana. Family was always very important to Joyce and her love for each of them could always be felt. 

California brought Joyce a career, many friends that she loved deeply, a church family, a deep loving relationship with her pastor Dr Rev Myrian Monnet, Myrian’s friendship was very important to Joyce and she treasured this friendship which really helped her relationship with Jesus grow. Joyce built a life filled with friends, family, laughter, love and adventure. Joyce shared a home with her best friend and life partner, Vickie Robertson for 43 years. They together cared for their horses, dogs, cats and lately even chickens. They traveled, camped, and spent a day or two at Disneyland. They worked together as church choir leaders with Vickie /directing and Joyce as accompanist. 

Joyce was preceded in death by her Father, Elsworth (Al), Mother Dorothy and her brother Jimm.  She is survived by her partner Vickie Robertson, Nephews Mitchel (Barb) Kilmer, Jimm (Peggy) Kilmer, Bob (Karen) Kilmer and Niece Heather Welsch, along with many great nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Celebration of Life will be held on November 11 at 1 PM at the Upland Lighthouse Church, located at 705 E. I Street (corner of Campus and I streets) in Ontario. CA.  A small graveside service will be held in Butte, MT at time of internment next year. 

Please make any donation or memorial to the American Cancer Society or local animal shelter.