HILDA BECK obituary

HOGELAND - Hilda D. Beck, 96, died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center due to natural causes.

A funeral service was scheduled for 11 a.m. today in the Hogeland American Lutheran Church with burial following in Silver Bow Cemetery. A luncheon was to follow at the church.

Hilda was born on July 23, 1909 in New Leipzig, N.D., to George and Dorothea (Schmidt) Wiedmer. She attended schools in North Dakota. On the first day of school, she did not know the English language, only German. Hilda came to Hogeland in 1928 to help her older sister with her newborn child.

Hilda married Adolph Beck on Oct. 22, 1930, in the parsonage of the Lutheran Church in Havre. They farmed and lived in the Hogeland area from 1936 until retirement in 1972 when they moved to Havre. Hilda was a lifelong member of the Hogeland American Church, organizing the church choir for many years. She was active with the ALCW, member of the Happy Homemakers and was active with her family in all their school activities. She was a very good cook and was known in Highland Park as the “cookie grandma.” In 1967, she started knitting, crocheting and made 159 large afghans and hundreds of potholders. She also enjoyed sewing throughout her lifetime, making items for her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

In November of 2004, she moved into Northern Montana Care Center. She often commented that she was the last remaining member of her and her husband's immediate families, the Beck's and Wiedmer's.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Adolph Beck on Jan. 6, 1974; son, Irvin Beck; seven brothers; three sisters; and two grandsons.

Survivors include her sons, Ronald (Lily) Beck of Fort Worth, Texas, and Wallace “Wally” (Loretta) Beck of Hogeland; daughters, Dorothy (George) Anderson of Lincoln, Beatrice (Martin) Kane of Big Sandy, Marilyn (Gerald) Herman of Choteau and Karen (Mike) Caplis of Helena; 19 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; numerous stepgrandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews; and special longtime friend, Doris Zellmer of Havre.

Memorials in Hilda's name are suggested to be sent to the Hogeland American Lutheran Church or to Messiah Lutheran church in Havre.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.