Beverly Rivell

July 30, 1953 - June 4, 2019

Beverly Irene Rivell, 65, passed away June 4, 2019. Born July 30, 1953 in Portsmouth, VA, she was the daughter of Robert Edward Rivell and the late Barbara Olsen Rivell. Bev was an important person to so many. She gave her generous support and love to husband Gene, children Brett and Reid and grandchildren Penelope, Josephine and Liam, her brothers and sisters, her parents, her nieces and nephews, her many friends, those with whom she worked, and those with whom she served in the U.S. Army. Her educational accomplishments are impressive. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing at Widener University becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, a Master of Public Administration in International Economic Development at Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, a Master of Public Health in International Health and a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Health at New York Medical College, School of Medicine. The list of appointments and special projects is long. Here are just a few: She worked as a Nurse Practitioner, an Administrative Nursing Supervisor, and in Public Health Nursing in the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Rwanda, Uganda, Botswana, Niger, and Trenton, NJ. She was the Director of Public Health Nursing for the NJ Dept. of Health and Senior Services, a Health Officer for the City of Trenton, NJ. She taught Community Health Nursing as an Adjunct Professor at Fairleigh Dickenson University. In the US Army, she was a Family Nurse Practitioner, a Battalion Logistics Officer, Public Welfare Officer, and a Plans, Operations, and Training Officer and Brigade Surgeon at Fort Dix, N.J. She later became a Consultant with Logistical Health International. She was published in the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine on soldier health. She also raised capuchin monkeys and was published in the American Journal of Primatology and other newsletters regarding primate behavior. She was a member of the Harvard Alumni Association, Sigma Theta Tau, International Nursing Honor Society, Global Health Council, International Council of Nurses, American College of Nurse Practitioners, American Public Health Association, American Society of Tropical Medicine, Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing, International Society of Primatologists, and the American Society of Primatologists. Bev retired from the U. S. Army after 30 years of service with the rank of Colonel. During her tenure, she earned a host of recognitions including: 2 Meritorious Service Medals, 6 Army Commendation Medals, 2 Army Achievement Medals, 2 National Defense Service Medals and the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation. Although it is important to recognize her many accomplishments, what she will be remembered by most is her generosity and her fierce commitment to doing right, to speaking truth to power, regardless of consequences, and for standing up for those without rank or privilege. May the world learn to emulate her sense of duty to treat one another with compassion and respect and may we find in our hearts the call to carry on her legacy to work toward change for the good of all. Bev is survived by her husband, Gene Van Benthysen and his children Brett Van Benthysen (wife Dr. Fahimeh Sasan and granddaughter Penelope) and Reid Van Benthysen (wife Amanda and grandchildren Liam and Josephine) her father, Robert Edward Rivell, her brother William Rivell (wife Maria Amadoz Rivell), her sister Elizabeth Salasko (husband William Salasko), her sister Sue McClam (husband Robert McClam), her brother John Rivell (wife Doreen Rivell), her brother Robert Rivell (wife Lydia Parras), her brother James Rivell (wife Maria Luisa Rivell) 20 nieces and nephews and 7 great nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her mother Barbara Olsen Rivell. We will celebrate her life on Monday, June 10th at 11:00am at Florence National Cemetery in SC with full military honors. Services have been entrusted to Kistler-Hardee Funeral Home and Crematory of Darlington, SC. Memorials may be made to Harvest Hope Food Bank https://www.harvesthope.org/ or Darlington County Humane Society https://darlingtonhumane.org/