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Woman who fell through ice on Long Lake remembered as caring, adventurous

Courtesy Photo Ian Bever, left, smiles proudly after performing dental work on his mother, Lynne Bever, shortly after he joined a dental practice in Bay City.

ALPENA – A Bay County woman with Alpena ties will be remembered by her family as much more than a news story.

Lynne Bever, whose name made headlines last weekend when she died after the snowmobile she was driving broke through the ice of Long Lake, spent her 60 years of life loving her family, seeking adventure, and putting others first.

“She never gave up,” Lynne’s son, Ian Bever, said. “If she had a goal, she was going to do it. Nobody could stop her.”

Lynne was known for tackling challenges that most people would find impossible. Her adventures included a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, at the age of 51.

“Nobody ever doubted her,” Ian said. “If Lynne said she was going to do it, she did it.”

Courtesy Photo Lynne Bever pauses at a base camp on her way up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Lynne lived in Linwood, near Bay City, and was very involved in the community there. She also spent a great deal of time in the Alpena area, enjoying the company of her friend, Mark Sharp, who has a residence on Long Lake. She got involved in Alpena life, participating in triathalons and other annual events. Sharp, who was with Lynne on the day she died, was her companion in many of her Alpena adventures.

Sharp could not be reached for comment.

Bever participated in mission trips with her Bay City church. Her son remembers her heading to Zambia, not only to use her medical skills as a trained registered nurse, but also because the trip would be an adventure, a chance to “travel, and meet and help other people.”

Ian remembers her as giving person who put others before herself. In a last act of unselfishness, Lynne was able to give the gift of life as an organ and tissue donor.

“All of her actions were always to benefit somebody else,” her son said. “That was really the biggest thing with her. Her generosity was something that was palpable. As soon as you met her, you knew it.”

Lynne celebrated her 60th birthday in August on Long Lake, enjoying a place and people she loved. Ian remembers having lunch with his mom a few days earlier, a time to celebrate his new job as a dentist at an office in Bay City.

Lynne retired from her job as a pharmaceutical sales representative in late December. She had been looking forward to spending time with her children – Ian, his brother, Greg, and Gregory’s wife in San Francisco, and his sister, Alyson, and her husband in Tennessee. She would also have undoubtedly continued to grow as an athlete, Ian said.

Lynne was athletic and competitive her whole life. Into adulthood, she was deeply involved in sports, from softball and volleyball to rowing and hockey. She participated in the National Senior Games multiple times, competing against the top senior volleyball players from across the country. According to Ian, her team won at least once.

“There was nothing that could stop Mom,” he said.

Snowmobiling was a recent love of Lynne’s, but, in the past few winters, she took great enjoyment from the sport, Ian said.

The family is shaken by their loss. But, even in a difficult time, they are gaining comfort from reminding each other of the love they felt from their mother.

“She never failed to tell you how much she cared about you and how proud she was of you,” Ian said. “It’s been kind of a common theme the past few days. Everyone we talk to says, you guys know how proud your mom was. It was never something that she was quiet about.”

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693 or jriddle@thealpenanews.com.

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