William Beck

1942 - 2014

William (Bill) Beck, 72, of Lakewood, Colorado, died Thursday, October 9, 2014 at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado of a sudden cardiac arrest. Bill was born October 5, 1942 in Jamestown, ND to Bennie and Helen Beck of Medina, ND. He received his elementary education in the Medina one-room school and his high school years were spent at Sheyenne River Academy in Harvey, ND. Bill attended Union College in Lincoln, NE before spending two years in the US Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He enjoyed attending his children's and niece's and nephew's sporting events, historical events, playing cards and was an avid reader. He and Karen Land were married June 15, 1968 in Lakewood, Colorado and just celebrated their 46th anniversary. Bill owned and operated Beck's Masonry the past 40 years doing commercial and residential brick, block and stone work throughout the Denver area and Lakewood. At a young age, Bill worked with his Dad, Bennie Beck, on the famous concrete "World's Largest Buffalo" in Jamestown, ND. Surviving are his wife Karen of Lakewood, CO; daugher Michelle Beck of Denver, CO; his son Matthew Beck of Gunnison, CO; son-in-law Grant Wittenwyler of Denver, CO; mother Helen Beck of Lincoln, NE; sisters Doris Schack of Lincoln, NE; Beverly Nelson of Lincoln, NE; Connie Neal of Butte Valley, CA; Karen Lien of Jamestown, ND and Ardyce Gonzales of Lincoln, NE. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and many extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his father Bennie Beck, and grandparents Peter and Carolina Beck and Oswald and Ida Schielke. Contributions in memory of Bill may be made to: The Colorado Historical Society at 1200 Broadway, Denver, CO 80206. Services were held at Crown Hill Mortuary in Wheat Ridge, CO on Saturday, October 18, 2014. Burial was on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, CO with full military honor.