Beck, Howard Harris (1922-2005)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2005 May 23 p. 2; 2005 May 26 p. 2

Birth date: 1922 May 27

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Jun 13 p. 8

text of obituary:

HOWARD HARRIS BECK

Howard Harris Beck, 82, of Hesston, Kan., died May 21, 2005. He was born May 27, 1922, to Thad and Henrietta (Etta) Beck on the family farm one mile west of Zimmerdale.

He married Anna Ruth Weaver on Sept. 26, 1943, and enjoyed 61 years of marriage.

He farmed the land that was in the family for 111 years; first by Duncan McFarlane, his grandpa, and then Thad, his father. He loved the family land and the land that his family rented from the Trousdale family for 111 years. He was a careful steward of these gifts of creation.

He and Anna Ruth managed their entrepreneurial business, The Wheat Bin, for 11 years.

He was active in the community. He served on local school boards, the Prairie View board, with Mennonite Disaster Service, the Hesston Rescue Team, the board of the Hesston Area Senior Center, and the Harvey County Soil Conservation board for 25 years.

Church involvement seemed as natural as breathing. He showed quiet leadership and an encouraging presence to pastors and others in the church. He was generous with both time and money. He took pride in ushering for 30 years, as well as serving as a Boy's Club leader and youth sponsor, elder and chair or member of numerous committees.

Survivors include his wife, Anna Ruth; two children, Duane and his wife, Lois, and Marlene Yoder and her husband, Todd; a sister, Neva Miller; five grandsons and three great-granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Lucinda Jo, who died at birth April 9, 1948; and two sisters, Hazel Yoder and Anabel Sommerfield.

Services were held at Hesston Mennonite Church. Burial was in Eastlawn Cemetery of Hesston.