Martha Jane Beck

1927 - 2018

Martha Jane Beck
February 19, 1927 - October 16, 2018
She was a force to be reckoned with!
Martha Jane Beck, age 91, of Pocatello, Idaho passed away on October 16, 2018 at Portneuf Medical Center of age related causes. Jane was born on February 18, 1927 in Indianapolis Indiana to Sibyl Gladys Stone and Charles Henry Green. She was raised in Clayton Indiana with her sister, Elizabeth.
Jane fell in love with Herbert Beck in high school and they were married in 1945. She and Herb produced 3 children; Susan, Michael, and Melinda. Jane was an amazing baker, and with the help of her husband, routinely beat out 5,000 other entrants to win first place in the cakes competition at the Indiana State Fair. Jane's homemade ice cream was so good that she had to make it in the bathtub so the neighbors wouldn't hear the churner and come running! She and her husband also learned how to dip chocolates, which they would sell at Christmastime. Jane was known for her sweet tooth and never met a bowl of ice cream, a chocolate, or a dessert she didn't like.
Jane and Herb moved the family to Mississippi in 1958. What a different place! Jane was able to stay at home with her kids and explore her creative and artistic side. She was a Girl Scout leader, sang in the church choir, learned to dance the fox trot, and made exquisite wedding cakes. She had a beautiful soprano voice and was always singing around the house with her husband. After a decade of living in Mississippi, she and Herb left their married daughter and their son who was attending college, and took their youngest, Melinda, to Boulder Colorado in 1966.
Even though she was scared to death of heights, Jane fell in love with the Rocky Mountains. After three years amongst the mountains, Jane and Herb moved to east Tennessee where they bought 80 acres near Kingston. They built a beautiful home overlooking Watts Barr Lake. Friends and family loved to visit them, eating homemade ice cream and playing Liverpool Rum. Jane was a card shark!
Jane lived in Tennessee for over 35 years. After an illness, her family moved her to Alabama to be close to her son Michael and his wife Sondra. She lived in the Birmingham area for 5 years and then was swooped off to Idaho to live with her daughter Melinda. Jane loved the west, especially Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. Melinda was honored to have her spend her last years in her home.
Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Herb; sister, Elizabeth; her parents Sibyl and Charles and her daughter-in-law Sondra Beck.
She is survived by her daughter Susan (Sonny Meriedth) of Arkansas, grandchildren Melissa & (Dale Ramer), Scott & Jon Meriedth; son Michael Beck, his children Amy (Todd) Gandy, Andy Beck (Jennifer); daughter Melinda Jahsman and her children Patrick, Emily (Jarrod Brownsberger).
Great grandchildren include Abby, Anna, &Parker Gandy; Maggie, Jane & Lilly Beck, Meredith and Caroline Ramer.
We love and miss you Mom!
Jane will be buried next to husband Herb in Clayton Indiana at a later date.