Beverly Middleton

MADISON – Beverly Hall Middleton died from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), an uncommon variant of Parkinson's disease, on Jan. 14, 2017, at Saint Mary's Care Center in Madison. She was born on a farm near Parker, South Dakota, on Sept. 25, 1930. Her family was extremely poor during the Great Depression, but as a youth she showed great ability in school. She had exceptional musical talent and perfect pitch and at the age of 15 received a scholarship to study music at the famed School of Music at the University of North Texas while completing her last two years of high school. She won state and national competitions in piano performance. She studied piano with four noted pianists, including Edward Kilenyi and Paul Badura-Skoda. She also earned a master's degree in music theory at the University of Texas. In her career as a professional musician she worked as a public school music teacher, an accompanist, a church organist, and a private piano teacher.     Beverly graduated from the University of North Texas in 2½ years in 1951, and a year later married her high school sweetheart, Russell Middleton, on June 2, 1952. They were married for more than 65 years and had three children and six grandchildren.     At the age of 50 she returned to graduate school and earned an MS degree in Preventive Medicine/Epidemiology at UW-Madison. She designed and carried out research projects for the UW Department of Family Medicine, the State of Wisconsin Division of Health, and the World Bank. Her evaluation of a prenatal health care coordination pilot program played an important role in the state's decision to implement a permanent program of this type to improve birth outcomes of poor and minority women.     After founding one of the first youth soccer teams for young boys on the far west side of Madison, Beverly learned that there were no soccer teams for girls in the entire city. She set out to organize a girls' team, enlisted the help of her husband, and recruited Bert Adams as their coach. The team attracted a large number of enthusiastic girls, and quickly expanded into a whole league. It soon became the dominant youth sport for girls in the city, and the high schools soon began to field girls' soccer teams.      Beverly was revered as a music teacher. She was a master at motivating her students and imparting a lifelong love of music to them. She was always warm, positive, and encouraging and acted as a friend, confidant, and adviser whenever she sensed they needed help. Many became professional musicians, but all were influenced by her infectious joy in music.      Beverly is survived by her husband, Russell Middleton, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at UW-Madison, three children—Mark Russell Middleton of Madison, Dr. Karen Jakpor (Riase) of Riverside, CA, and Dr. Don Middleton (Mary) of Whitefish Bay—and by six grandchildren—Otana and Jibiana Jakpor of Riverside, CA, and Austin, Jackson, Camille, and Margo Middleton of Whitefish Bay. Two of her six brothers survive her—Rodney Hall of Mitchell, SD, and Courtney Hall of Fulton, SD.     There will be a visitation at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL & CREMATION CARE, 7435 University Ave., Middleton, on Friday, Jan. 27, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. There will be a graveside service and interment at FOREST HILL CEMETERY, 1 Speedway Rd., 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, Jan. 28. A Memorial Service will begin at 11:00 a.m. at COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 326 S. Segoe Rd., on Jan. 28, with Pastors Charles Berthoud and Bette Duff presiding. Memorial gifts may be made to CurePSP (www.psp.org).  Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.