Mildred Louise Beebe

1937 - 2023

Mildred Louise (Rieke) Beebe passed away peacefully on May 2, 2023, at the age of 86 In Longmont, Colorado. She was born February 2, 1937, in Sterling, Colorado, the youngest of five children born to Nellie and Louie Rieke. Mildred, known as Millie in her youth, was raised to be a strong, independent woman who lived her life with quiet persistence, unwavering patience, and fierce determination. She was loving, smart, funny and a whiz at trivia! Mildred graduated from Sterling High School and enrolled at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado where she was initiated into the Kappa Delta sorority in October 1955. During the Christmas break of 1956, Mildred accepted the marriage proposal of her high school sweetheart, Robert G. Beebe, and they were married two weeks later, on December 28, 1956, celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary prior to Robert's death in 2019. Mildred's mother, Nellie Rieke, was a master planner to pull off that wedding with two weeks' notice! Suspending her college education, Mildred joined Robert who was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska at Fort Wainwright. During their years in Fairbanks, they enjoyed exploring the many outdoors experiences offered by the Alaskan landscape, instilling the same adventurous spirit in their children. Mildred and Robert returned to Boulder, Colorado upon his discharge in 1958. Mildred began to raise her family, with the birth of her first child in 1959. She gave birth to two children at Boulder Community Hospital and her youngest in Hastings, Nebraska while Robert completed his college degree. Mildred loved her family and raised three strong and independent children while maintaining full-time employment throughout her life. Mildred supported her three children in all their activities and adventures with a never ending supply of patience and love. While in Fairbanks, Mildred began her long career in public service jobs as a P&S Clerk at the supply shop on base. She accepted a position with the National Bureau of Standards when returning to Boulder in 1958. While in Hastings, Nebraska, Mildred worked at the local TV station as a traffic manager and at the VA Hospital completing medical transcriptions. When the family returned to Boulder, Mildred returned to the National Bureau of Standards. Mildred continued to reach for better positions and moved to the US Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) in May 1967, remaining there until 1979. Mildred left NOAA to accept a position with the Dept. of Education claims division, utilizing more of her accounting skills, and from there she accepted a position as a financial analyst with the Airforce Accounting Division. Mildred retired from the Federal Government after 35 years of service. Even though Mildred left college, she never stopped learning. She took many trainings and earned certifications in accounting as she moved up in her career. In addition to professional development, Mildred also returned to CU Boulder in the spring of 1971. She took one or two classes at a time, while working full-time and raising three children. Her perseverance paid off, and Mildred graduated in 1979 with a BA in Group Communication in Government. She was active in the National Organization of Women and fought against the gender inequality she faced, even lodging a complaint of gender discrimination against an employer in 1975. Mildred set the example for her children that women are a force to be reckoned with. Mildred loved living in Boulder and having the opportunities to enjoy the mountains, spending time exploring the back roads and four-wheel drive trails with her family. In her free time, she also enjoyed cross-stitching, staying up to date with current events, and trivia. Mildred was preceded in death by her husband Robert G. Beebe, parents Nellie and Louie Rieke, brothers Kenneth and Lloyd Rieke, and sister Bernice (Rieke) Croston. Her sister Eula Rieke passed away just two days after Mildred. Mildred is survived by her children Amy J. Christianson, James A. Beebe (Cindy), Michelle M. Beebe (Kim Saunders), and her grandchildren Hannah, Rachel, and Angie. A ceremony to celebrate Mildred's life will be held on July 6, 2023 at 11:00am in the Chautauqua's Rocky Mountains Climber's room, with internment of her ashes following at 1:30pm at the Green Mountain Cemetery, 290 20th St., Boulder, CO. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to your local PBS station; PBS Shows were favorites of Mildred.