Mary Louise Beckman, age 92 of Blair, passed away Sept. 4, 2022, at Carter Place in Blair. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday Sept. 9, 2022, at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Blair. Graveside services will follow in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Blair. Visitation will be held Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m. with a Rosary Service at 7 p.m., at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair.
Mary Lou was born July 13, 1930, in Council Bluffs, Iowa at Jennie Edmundson Hospital to Louis George, Sr. and Jessica Ferne Eckrich of Neola, Iowa. She went to country school through the 8th grade and then graduated from St. Joseph High School in Neola in 1948. She then attended St. Catherine’s School of Nursing in Omaha from July 1948 to July 1951 where she graduated with her R.N. and worked at St. Catherine’s for a year. She was united in marriage to Alfred J. Beckman, of Omaha, at St. Patrick’s Church in Neola, on June 28, 1952. They lived in Omaha until March 1961 when they moved to a farm west of Herman where Al farmed and worked at Christopher Body Shop until 1973, when he built his own shop (Al’s Alignment Service). Five children were born to them: Mary Catherine, Jerry, Bob, John, and Joanne. Mary Lou worked part-time from 1970 to 1974 at the Blair Hospital. In 1983 they moved to an acreage south of Blair and then to a condo in Blair 2014. Mary Lou had resided at Carter Place in Blair since October of 2016.
Mary Lou enjoyed playing piano and organ, vegetable gardening, playing cards and bingo. She volunteered at the Hospital Thrift Store, Blood Bank, and the Washington County Recycling Center. She was also the pianist for the Friendship Singers for five years and served as the church Organist for 30 years at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Blair.
She belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary and the Eagles Auxiliary where she served as an officer in both organizations and served as secretary for two terms with CCW at St. Francis Borgia.
Marly Lou was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Alfred, son Bob, daughter Mary Catherine, and brother Louis G Eckrich Jr.
She is survived by her children; Jerry (Kathy) Beckman of New Hope, Alabama, John (Jean) Beckman of Blair and Joanne Beckman of Blair, 6 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, sister Jean (E.J.) Fischer of Neola, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Campbell Aman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
