Belva Jean Wiers

Belva Jean Wiers, loving wife, mother, and friend, passed away on Sunday, October 21, 2018, she was 82. Belva was born on September 22, 1936 to Leonard and Mae Kinley in Hutchinson, Kansas, where she grew up with her younger brother, Jerry. After graduating from “Hutch High” she moved to Little Rock where she attended Arkansas Baptist Hospital’s School of Nursing. She graduated in 1957 and began her nursing career at the school’s hospital. In 1959 her roommate asked her to move to Denver with her, and she agreed, ultimately moving alone when the roommate changed her mind. Once in Denver she immediately got involved in a church and met her husband of 57 years, Floyd, at a youth ministry event where he was leading the music and she played the piano. They married in February of 1961 and went on to raise two daughters, Valarie and Vicki. After working at Denver’s Children’s and Veteran’s Hospitals, Belva found her work home in the Operating Room at Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, where she worked for 28 years. Upon retiring in 2001, she was the Nurse Manager of Peripheral Cardiovascular and General Surgery. During her career as a nurse she was asked to be part of pioneering efforts in kidney transplants (she assisted on the 2nd kidney transplant in the world), was one of the first to be trained and certified on autotransfusion of blood, assisted on the first laparoscopic gallbladder surgeries in Colorado, and was recognized by the Association of Operating Room Nurses for her care of the victims of the Columbine Shooting. In 1995, at the age of 58 (and while working full-time) Belva earned her Bachelors of Science degree from the College of St. Francis, being recognized with the Outstanding Student Award for distinguished academic achievement with a 4.0 grade point average. More than anything, Belva loved Jesus. She and her husband were devoted to serving in the local church, usually in the youth or music ministries. She played the piano and loved to sing, doing both even after Alzheimer’s Disease took its toll on her speech and memory. Belva is survived by her devoted husband, Floyd, her daughters, Valarie Wiers of Lakewood, Colorado, Vicki Berger (Larry) of Houston, Texas, her beloved grandchildren, Matthew, Christina, and Philip, and several cousins, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, November 1, 2018, 10:30 am at the Riverside Baptist Church Chapel, 2401 Alcott St, Denver, Colorado. Donations may be made in her honor to the Riverside Baptist Church Pregnancy Center, 2401 Alcott Street, Denver, CO 80211.