Mable I. Beck

Mable was born April 17, 1915, to Samuel and Josephine Leverson on the family farm north of Hawley. She was raised on the farm, attending Wide Awake Country School for her first 8 years and then attending Hawley High School for her last four years, graduating in 1933. Following graduation, she continued schooling, attending post graduate school in Hawley. After school Mable worked for Dr. Bergheim in Hawley. She was also kept busy "waving" hair for many women in town. She also worked many years in Fargo with her sister Jo at the Coney restaurant. In 1942, she moved to Burbank, CA. There she worked as a 'riveter' on the tail flaps of the famous P38 Lightening fighter bombers. After the war drew to a close, she moved back to Detroit Lakes, MN, where she became reacquainted with George Beck after he returned from the war. On January 29, 1947, they were married in Sidney, MT. Together they started a family and farmed north of Hawley. In 1967, George answered a call to the ministry and they moved to Akeley, MN where together they served the Akeley and Cass Lake churches. In 1976, they moved to Frazee, serving the Frazee-Vergas Methodist churches until their retirement in 1979. They returned to Hawley and enjoyed the next 8 years together until George's death in 1987. Mable was very involved in the REACH program in Hawley. She was also very active in the United Methodist Church, and enjoyed working with her beloved friends of the United Methodist Women. On her 90th birthday, she was named Hawley's Outstanding Senior Citizen for her work in the community and church. Mable had many hobbies she enjoyed, such as sewing, gardening, reading, and games, but her greatest joy was found in her family, especially her children and grandchildren.Mable was preceded in death by her husband, parents, 3 sisters, 1 brother, and 1 grandson. She is survived by sons, Thomas Bernie Beck of Akeley, MN, John Janet Beck of Hawley, MN; daughter, Barbara Bruce Jacobs of Frazee, MN; 11 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Norma Beck-Thompson; and many nieces and nephews.