Geneva Mae (Stevens) Northrup, 83, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, went to be with the Lord on December 30, 2021, with her daughters by her side. Genevea was born January 29, 1938, in Avery, Oklahoma to Durward and Ruby Stevens. She was the fifth of eight children. Her two brothers Harold and Gene being older left the family farm while Geneva was very young. She stepped up to help her Daddy with the farm chores, loving every minute of it. This set the stage for her lifelong attribute of working hard with her future husband and family or anyone who needed help.
Geneva was baptized into the Church of the Firstborn by Bro. Claude Greenfield at Parkland Pond when she was 11 years old. It was the cold of winter and they had to cut the ice to take her into the water. Geneva went to school in Parkland, Oklahoma where she excelled in Academics enough to be promoted several times so that by the time she was 14 she was in 11th grade. From there she took a trip to California with her parents, and they ended up leaving her there with her sister Juanita Northrup. She enrolled in school at Modoc High in Alturas, California, but only attended for a short time, as she married the love of her life Lloyd Northrup on October 2, 1953. She and her sister Juanita were now married to brothers. When Juanita had her first child and she needed help, Geneva once again stepped up and helped bring the baby into the world. It was the beginning of a 47 year calling on her life as midwife in the Church of the Firstborn. She traveled many miles from Northern Washington to Southern California attending to sisters in the church, who called her to be with them as their babies were born. She never kept a tally, but we figure it was over 200 babies.
Geneva bore 5 children of her own and while being a wife and mother, she was a servant to the Church and to God. She kept an immaculate home and made sure her husband and children were well taken care of. She would plan for three complete wonderful meals each day even if it was a packed lunch to send to school or work. She sang her whole life and played four musical instruments, piano, guitar, harmonica, and the organ. She served the church with these gifts and sang and played at many weddings and funerals. God gave her the words to write many songs in her life, then to these words, she composed music. A few of the songs are still sang in the Church of the Firstborn today.
Over the years many of her siblings and their spouses moved to Alturas, California where Geneva and Lloyd lived and eventually even her parents moved there too. As they were all musically talented and very close, the singing at church was always beautiful. Geneva would also have singings at her home almost every Saturday night and most of the church would come where refreshments were provided also. Then on Sunday it seemed when the church would meet, they would “raise the roof.”
Geneva lived the first 15 years of her life in Oklahoma, then lived in California for 66 years. Over the years Geneva began to have to say goodbye to siblings, some who moved away and others that passed away including her parents. Some of her children also moved away. In 2016 her husband Lloyd passed away and in 2018 she made the decision to move back to Oklahoma and lived with her daughter Patty and Roger her husband, where she lived until her death.
Geneva is preceded in death by her husband Lloyd who preceded her in death after 64 years of marriage; parents Durward and Ruby Stevens; sisters Juanita Northrup, Darlene Overacker, Peggy Rodgers and sister Karel Sue McCilester who passed away the same day as Geneva but two and a half hours later; brothers Gene Stevens and Harold Stevens; her precious daughter Janet Murch and grandson-in-law Jacob Bocook.
Geneva is survived by four children Alan Northrup and wife Helen of Alturas, California, Rex Northrup and wife Debbie of Alturas, California, Karla Madison of Sapulpa and Patty Bell and husband Roger of Sapulpa; son-in-law Dennis Murch of Agra, Oklahoma; grandchildren Mechelle Lugard and husband Tony of Montrose, Colorado, Renee Bocook of Tryon, Oklahoma, Teshea Retherford and husband Carl of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, Wesley Northrup of Olathe, Colorado, Ryan Northrup and wife Chrystal of Olathe, Colorado, Carissa Taulbee and husband Sonny of Granite Falls, Washington, Stephanie Wellemeyer and husband Jon of Alturas, California, Tara Grimme and husband Nick of Alturas, California, D.J. Northrup of Alturas, California, Alysha Ross and husband Rob, Cierra Smith and husband Erik of Sapulpa, Kyle Madison and wife Marissa of Fallbrook, California, Cory Bell and wife Alison of Sapulpa, Brad Bell and wife Daysha of Krum, Texas, Andramache Smith and husband R.D. of Sapulpa, Keturah Bond and husband Garrick of Hobbs, New Mexico and Patrick Bell and wife Shelby of Morgantown, Indiana; sister Alice Penrod of Quincy, California; 54 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren.
There will be a visitation from 6:00-8:00pm, Monday, January 3, 2022, at Traditions Funeral Chapel in Kellyville. Services will be 11:00am, Tuesday, January 4, 2022, also at Traditions Funeral Chapel in Kellyville