Richard “Dick” Beckett

Richard Warren Beckett, 89, of Glyndon, MN. passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, November 24, 2018. Richard was born on June 28, 1929 to Louis and Elsa (Gruhl) Beckett in Glyndon, MN.  Dick grew up and attended a country school through 8^th grade near Glyndon.  When he was 16, he purchased two quarter sections of land from his Dad and started farming.

In 1948, Dick married Phyllis Howe and raised a family of six children.  Farm life included gardening, field work, milking cows, raising chickens and pigs.  Later the farm was put into the Soil Bank Program.

From 1958 through 1959, Dick worked for American Crystal Sugar in Moorhead, MN during Campaign.  Evidently he wanted to switch professions so he worked for Chuck’s Electric in Hawley, MN from 1959 through 1963 — eventually becoming a Master Electrician.  Seeing that this was a lucrative trade, Dick and a friend started B&B Electric in 1963 and was an employer until 1978 when he retired from the electrical trade.  While an electrician, he farmed in the fields after work in the evenings and weekends.

The family first started lake life on the south end of Upper Cormorant with a cabin on a small lake lot.  Relaxation was great but he ran out of things to do.  They bought 92 acres on the north end of Upper Cormorant where he had room to farm, provided firewood and saw milled boards for the family and had unlimited space to design and build his projects. Wonderful family memories were created at both locations!

In 1991, he worked at American Crystal Sugar – consulting with engineers on a robotic beet sugar content tester plus other machines.

Dick and his companion, Judith Gilbertson, wanted an off-the-grid home so they turned a grain bin into a self sufficient cabin with a wind generator and solar panels.  If Dick couldn’t buy something, he would build it!

Richard is survived by one brother, Leonard (Nancy) Beckett of Palm Bay, FL.; six children, Karrie (Bob) Kapsner of Park Rapids, MN, Larry Beckett of Glyndon, MN, Jerry (Deb) Beckett of Glyndon, MN, Randy (Cindy) Beckett of Glyndon, MN, Lynette (Dave) Jorgenson of St. Thomas, ND, and Cindy Ulven of Hawley, MN; 13 grandchildren – Kris, Kelsey, Dwight, Tony, Jennifer, Tim, Tom, Holly, Kyle, Josh, Shawn, Amber, Shane; 11 great grandchildren – Michael, Jacob, Hannah, Kimmy, Hunter, Anaira, Braelynn, Noah, Ellie, Jaxson and Marley; nieces and nephews and others that liked to call him “grandpa”.

He was welcomed into heaven by his parents; siblings – William, Everett, and Marjorie; Also Gary, Phyllis, Judith, Dianna, relatives and friends.

He will be remembered for his positive attitude, stories, great sense of humor, laughter and always helping others.  He loved his family with all of his heart.

Special “caring” thanks to Terra, Tina, Anne, Katie, Lois and Kylie from Hospice and those at Sanford Broadway Medical Center in Palliative Care.

Visitation will be Friday, November 30, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m., in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead.

Funeral service will be Saturday, December 1, at 11:00 a.m., in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead.

Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery, Glyndon, MN.