John Beck Obituary
John E. Beck was born in Seattle, WA on 10-19-1934 to John Emil Beck and Mary M. Gottwig Beck. His parents had been married in Billings, Mt; then moved to Seattle.
He came home to his father's partially constructed log cabin, with a foundation, floor, and a canvas tent on top. Later it was finished, complete with a river rock fireplace. He had three siblings, Ronald L. Beck (dec), James A. Beck, and Mary Louise Beck Romeijn (dec).
During the depression, they sold egg noodles that were mixed in an electric washing machine. When World War II began, John's father worked for Todd Dry Docks in Seattle, helping repair damaged warships.
When John was 10 years old, in 1944, the family returned to Billings, where he spent the majority of his life. They settled in Lockwood, and he attended Pine Hill Elementary, Lincoln Junior High, and graduated from Billings Senior High in January 1954. He entered the U.S. Air Force in March 1954 and served four years, finishing as a Staff Sergeant. He was stationed at Lackland AFB (San Antonio, TX), Lowry AFB (Denver, CO), and Mather AFB (12 miles east of Sacramento, CA).
During the last year of his service at this final location, an Airman buddy, Rene Lapierre, asked if anyone knew how to build a rabbit hutch. John volunteered and was rewarded with a home-cooked meal at Rene's home, cooked by his wife, Luella Visker Lapierre. However, the best reward was that he met Luella's sister, Bunny (Bernice Visker Beck). On their second date, John asked Bunny to marry him, she said yes, and on April 6, 1957, they were married in Fair Oaks, CA. That marriage lasted over 66 years and produced five children: John H. Beck (Cindy), Corvallis, MT; June C. Beck, Billings; Nancy Beck Schlicting (Bruce), Billings; Valerie Beck Ross (Eric), Bozeman, MT; and Jennifer L. Beck, Billings, 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. John's repetitive joke was "I went to build a rabbit hutch and came home with a bunny".
The couple moved to Billings after John's discharge. Except for 10 months in Citrus Heights, CA in 1968 and seven years in Moses Lake, WA (1979-1986), they remained in Billings. John was usually self-employed, part owner of Beck's Floral and Garden Store, home builder, insurance agent, and salesman of everything from cosmetics to metal buildings. He was a hard-working, charismatic, loving person with an abiding faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ. He loved his children and grandchildren unconditionally and considered them his most priceless treasures. He adored and loved his wife and made sure she knew it. The bond between them has not been broken.
John E. Beck was born in Seattle, WA on 10-19-1934 to John Emil Beck and Mary M. Gottwig Beck. His parents had been married in Billings, Mt; then moved to Seattle.
He came home to his father's partially constructed log cabin, with a foundation, floor, and a canvas tent on top. Later it was finished, complete with a river rock fireplace. He had three siblings, Ronald L. Beck (dec), James A. Beck, and Mary Louise Beck Romeijn (dec).
During the depression, they sold egg noodles that were mixed in an electric washing machine. When World War II began, John's father worked for Todd Dry Docks in Seattle, helping repair damaged warships.
When John was 10 years old, in 1944, the family returned to Billings, where he spent the majority of his life. They settled in Lockwood, and he attended Pine Hill Elementary, Lincoln Junior High, and graduated from Billings Senior High in January 1954. He entered the U.S. Air Force in March 1954 and served four years, finishing as a Staff Sergeant. He was stationed at Lackland AFB (San Antonio, TX), Lowry AFB (Denver, CO), and Mather AFB (12 miles east of Sacramento, CA).
During the last year of his service at this final location, an Airman buddy, Rene Lapierre, asked if anyone knew how to build a rabbit hutch. John volunteered and was rewarded with a home-cooked meal at Rene's home, cooked by his wife, Luella Visker Lapierre. However, the best reward was that he met Luella's sister, Bunny (Bernice Visker Beck). On their second date, John asked Bunny to marry him, she said yes, and on April 6, 1957, they were married in Fair Oaks, CA. That marriage lasted over 66 years and produced five children: John H. Beck (Cindy), Corvallis, MT; June C. Beck, Billings; Nancy Beck Schlicting (Bruce), Billings; Valerie Beck Ross (Eric), Bozeman, MT; and Jennifer L. Beck, Billings, 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. John's repetitive joke was "I went to build a rabbit hutch and came home with a bunny".
The couple moved to Billings after John's discharge. Except for 10 months in Citrus Heights, CA in 1968 and seven years in Moses Lake, WA (1979-1986), they remained in Billings. John was usually self-employed, part owner of Beck's Floral and Garden Store, home builder, insurance agent, and salesman of everything from cosmetics to metal buildings. He was a hard-working, charismatic, loving person with an abiding faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ. He loved his children and grandchildren unconditionally and considered them his most priceless treasures. He adored and loved his wife and made sure she knew it. The bond between them has not been broken.
John Beck Obituary
John E. Beck was born in Seattle, WA on 10-19-1934 to John Emil Beck and Mary M. Gottwig Beck. His parents had been married in Billings, Mt; then moved to Seattle.
He came home to his father's partially constructed log cabin, with a foundation, floor, and a canvas tent on top. Later it was finished, complete with a river rock fireplace. He had three siblings, Ronald L. Beck (dec), James A. Beck, and Mary Louise Beck Romeijn (dec).
During the depression, they sold egg noodles that were mixed in an electric washing machine. When World War II began, John's father worked for Todd Dry Docks in Seattle, helping repair damaged warships.
When John was 10 years old, in 1944, the family returned to Billings, where he spent the majority of his life. They settled in Lockwood, and he attended Pine Hill Elementary, Lincoln Junior High, and graduated from Billings Senior High in January 1954. He entered the U.S. Air Force in March 1954 and served four years, finishing as a Staff Sergeant. He was stationed at Lackland AFB (San Antonio, TX), Lowry AFB (Denver, CO), and Mather AFB (12 miles east of Sacramento, CA).
During the last year of his service at this final location, an Airman buddy, Rene Lapierre, asked if anyone knew how to build a rabbit hutch. John volunteered and was rewarded with a home-cooked meal at Rene's home, cooked by his wife, Luella Visker Lapierre. However, the best reward was that he met Luella's sister, Bunny (Bernice Visker Beck). On their second date, John asked Bunny to marry him, she said yes, and on April 6, 1957, they were married in Fair Oaks, CA. That marriage lasted over 66 years and produced five children: John H. Beck (Cindy), Corvallis, MT; June C. Beck, Billings; Nancy Beck Schlicting (Bruce), Billings; Valerie Beck Ross (Eric), Bozeman, MT; and Jennifer L. Beck, Billings, 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. John's repetitive joke was "I went to build a rabbit hutch and came home with a bunny".
The couple moved to Billings after John's discharge. Except for 10 months in Citrus Heights, CA in 1968 and seven years in Moses Lake, WA (1979-1986), they remained in Billings. John was usually self-employed, part owner of Beck's Floral and Garden Store, home builder, insurance agent, and salesman of everything from cosmetics to metal buildings. He was a hard-working, charismatic, loving person with an abiding faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ. He loved his children and grandchildren unconditionally and considered them his most priceless treasures. He adored and loved his wife and made sure she knew it. The bond between them has not been broken.
John E. Beck was born in Seattle, WA on 10-19-1934 to John Emil Beck and Mary M. Gottwig Beck. His parents had been married in Billings, Mt; then moved to Seattle.
He came home to his father's partially constructed log cabin, with a foundation, floor, and a canvas tent on top. Later it was finished, complete with a river rock fireplace. He had three siblings, Ronald L. Beck (dec), James A. Beck, and Mary Louise Beck Romeijn (dec).
During the depression, they sold egg noodles that were mixed in an electric washing machine. When World War II began, John's father worked for Todd Dry Docks in Seattle, helping repair damaged warships.
When John was 10 years old, in 1944, the family returned to Billings, where he spent the majority of his life. They settled in Lockwood, and he attended Pine Hill Elementary, Lincoln Junior High, and graduated from Billings Senior High in January 1954. He entered the U.S. Air Force in March 1954 and served four years, finishing as a Staff Sergeant. He was stationed at Lackland AFB (San Antonio, TX), Lowry AFB (Denver, CO), and Mather AFB (12 miles east of Sacramento, CA).
During the last year of his service at this final location, an Airman buddy, Rene Lapierre, asked if anyone knew how to build a rabbit hutch. John volunteered and was rewarded with a home-cooked meal at Rene's home, cooked by his wife, Luella Visker Lapierre. However, the best reward was that he met Luella's sister, Bunny (Bernice Visker Beck). On their second date, John asked Bunny to marry him, she said yes, and on April 6, 1957, they were married in Fair Oaks, CA. That marriage lasted over 66 years and produced five children: John H. Beck (Cindy), Corvallis, MT; June C. Beck, Billings; Nancy Beck Schlicting (Bruce), Billings; Valerie Beck Ross (Eric), Bozeman, MT; and Jennifer L. Beck, Billings, 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. John's repetitive joke was "I went to build a rabbit hutch and came home with a bunny".
The couple moved to Billings after John's discharge. Except for 10 months in Citrus Heights, CA in 1968 and seven years in Moses Lake, WA (1979-1986), they remained in Billings. John was usually self-employed, part owner of Beck's Floral and Garden Store, home builder, insurance agent, and salesman of everything from cosmetics to metal buildings. He was a hard-working, charismatic, loving person with an abiding faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ. He loved his children and grandchildren unconditionally and considered them his most priceless treasures. He adored and loved his wife and made sure she knew it. The bond between them has not been broken.
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