Joseph M. Bellerive

Joseph M. Bellerive passed away Saturday, December 28, 2024, at Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton at the age of 98. 

He was born on November 11, 1926, in Damar, Kansas, the son of Joseph Bellerive and Elsie (Brin) Bellerive. Joseph married Eleanor Newell in Damar on January 15, 1946, and they enjoyed nearly 64 loving years together. 

Joseph was an active member of the St. Thomas Catholic church his entire adult life. His involvements included Knights of Columbus, Parish Council, Eucharistic Minister & CCD teacher, to list just a few. 

A successful farmer his entire life, he moved from renting the small Ostmeyer farm to owning and running his farming operation. He often subsidized this with income from a variety of enterprises, including a fur business, selling minnows and bait, cattle ranching, a Holstein calf bottle-feeding operation, raising sheep, and farrowing hogs. 

His many passions included his love of bow hunting deer and making archery bows and arrows, opening day pheasant hunting with family, teaching his children horseback riding, gardening, fur trapping, pond stocking to supply his famous crawdad boils, and, of course, catching big fish. He started the annual camping family reunion known as the “Bellerive Bash.”

Joseph will be dearly missed by his loving family and many friends. 

Survivors include: his four sons, Joseph (Joey) and his wife Joni of Stockton, Peter and his wife Joanie of Stockton, James and his wife Dawn of Olathe, and John and Amy of Lawrence; two daughters, Kathryn and Leneal Locke of Argyle, Texas, and Norma and Floyd Harris of Downs; 22 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren: Shiela, her husband Bill Davis and their daughter Maddy; David Maddy; Kala, her husband Chris Davis and their children Brett and Jacob; Cory Locke, his wife Stephanie and their children Christopher and Lucy; Dustin Locke; Bridget, her husband Ian Olsen; Holly, her husband Monte Nelson and their children Kersti and her husband Derek Freel, and Ryker; Hiedi, her husband Justin Rexroat, and their children Jackson, Jerek and Joel; Hope, her husband Brian Spano and their children Dagan and Darshea; Hosea Harris, his wife Ashley, and their children Harper and Hazel; Shawna, her husband Richard Atwill and their children Taiylor and Hailey; Josephfa (Seph) and his wife Betsy and their daughters Emily and Audrey; Nicole, her husband Shaun Linenberger and their children Will, Parker and Zeke; Stephen Bellerive and his wife Emily and their children Henry, Samson and Annie; Jonathan Bellerive and his wife Chloe and their children Zolia and Mia; Andrew Bellerive; Eleanor (Ellie) Bellerive; Alex Bellerive; Regan and her husband Cole Cook; Noah Bellerive; Haven Bellerive; and Eliza Bellerive.

Joseph was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor; his brother, Maynard Bellerive, and sisters, Noda Demarteau, Bernita Genter, Velois Demarteau, Betty Jo Bellerive, and Mary Lou Arpin; and his daughter Elaine Maddy and her husband, David Vane Maddy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Stockton. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Damar. Visitation will be on Monday from 6-8 p.m., with a Vigil and Rosary Service at 7 p.m. at the church. 

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Thomas Catholic Church or Solomon Valley Manor and sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.plumeroverlease.com