Rebecca Lee Burgess Probst

1957 - 2023

Rebecca Lee Burgess Probst Rebecca "Beck" Probst was born in Tulsa on June 4, 1957, and was a lifelong resident of the city.

Beck attended Franklin and Eisenhower Elementary schools, and graduated from Monte Cassino School in 1975, where she was an honor student and a cheerleader.

She attended Beloit College in Wisconsin in 1975-1976, where she met her future husband, William "Josh" Probst of Rockland, Mass.

They married in 1977, raised two children, Joshua and Sarah, and celebrated their growing love for one another for the next 46 years.

She was a dedicated Girl Scout leader for over a decade, mentoring the same group of girls until many of them earned their prestigious Gold Award in high school.

Beck began the first chapter of her work career as a typist in the county clerk's office and advanced steadily over time until her promotion to Assistant Vice President at Liberty Bank.

After many successful years in the banking industry, Beck found her true calling, resumed her education and completed nursing school at Tulsa Community College. She worked as a Registered Nurse at Hillcrest Medical Center for the next 24 years until her retirement in 2022.

She loved road trips, live music, and spending time with family, and would often travel hundreds of miles to see and hear her favorite artists perform. Her friendly smile and infectious laugh were well known in the music festival community, where she was both loved and respected by her fellow "jamily" members.

Beck was a strong, free-spirited independent woman who was not afraid to speak her mind, but always kept a civil tongue and seldom had to raise her voice to make a point. She was a strong advocate for women's rights and a firm believer in bodily autonomy for all humans.

She died peacefully at Porta Caeli House in Tulsa, surrounded by love and in the presence of family. She is survived by her husband Josh, her children Joshua and Sarah, and numerous nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed, but her legacy of love and compassion will live on in the hearts of the many people whose lives she touched. The following quotes are but a small sample of the effect Beck had on those who knew and loved her:



"You were the strength of your family and glue that held it all together. I always remember our good times at Hillcrest. You were a special friend!"

"So thankful for your friendship and example of love!"

"Mama, thank you for sharing and showing that music is a whole life endeavor."

"Beck, you've been a friend, but also like a parent to me for a long time. I love you very much."

"Do you remember the story about when you were little and acting up and your dad went and got the fly swatter as a show of force and you looked up at him and said, 'are you going to fly me dad?' and he laughed so hard he forgot why he went to get the thing in the first place???He told me that story more times than I could count. He thought you were the coolest little girl in the entire world. You were!"

"Thank you for making Girl Scouts a meaningful part of my life."

"You have been a light of our community and are clearly highly revered. So happy to know you, my life is better for it."

As a final act of generosity, Beck donated her body to Genesis Legacy, to be utilized as a teaching tool for medical professionals. A celebration of Beck's life will be held at Thelma's Peach, 2008 E. Admiral Blvd. Tulsa, from 1to 4 PM on Sunday, June 4, Beck's 66th birthday. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice of Green Country.