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Barbara Beck Obituary
Barbara Nordly Beck
December 26, 2022
WATERLOO-Barbara Nordly Beck, Waterloo, Iowa and a former resident of Northfield, MN passed away on Monday, December 26 at the age of 95. She was born in Red Wing, Minnesota, the daughter of Louis and Florence Brown Nordly.
Barbara, also known as "Putter", graduated from Red Wing HS in 1945, and Carleton College in 1949. Carleton was where she would meet her husband, William Beck. They married in 1950 and were together for 62 years. Bill's career with John Deere and Honeywell kept the family experiencing new places. Putter made new friends at every stop while living in Ottumwa, IA, Minneapolis, MN, Manchester, NH, Arlington Heights, IL, and Wayzata, MN. They retired to Pequot Lakes, MN and then Northfield, MN. After her husband's death in 2012, Barb moved to Waterloo to be with family.
Barbara was always interested in others and more importantly, she made all she met feel important and significant in her life. When she gave of her time, she gave it joyfully and completely. At her 60th college reunion in 2009, Carleton presented Putter with its Distinguished Alumni Service award.
Barbara is survived by two sons, Daniel (Jan) from Denver, CO and David (Laurel Marsden, partner) from Richmond, VA, and her daughter Mary (Michael) Broshar of Buckingham, Iowa. Her nine grandchildren are: Brianna (Jason) Cline, Katy (Aram) Susong, Aaron (Ashley) Broshar, Casey (Katie) Beck, Betsy (Tony) Pollastrini, Laura (Nick) Bonewitz, Diane (Theo) Christifore, Jeff Beck and Taylor (Cody) Ronan, and 18 great-grandchildren (Sam, Molly, Amelia, Ivery, Grayson, Madelyn, Joya, Beck, Autumn, Melanie, Reese, McKinley, Eden, Levi, McKayla, Hunter, Landon and Hannah).
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and a sister, Elizabeth Nordly Torrey.
The family will hold a reception on Wednesday, January 4 at 10:00 AM at Landmark Commons in Waterloo. A Celebration of Life will be held on January 6, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Christ Episcopal Church, Red Wing, MN following a private inurnment at Oakwood Cemetery.
Reception to follow.
Memorials may be directed in Barbara's name to Carleton College, https://www.carleton.edu/giving/methods/.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Barbara Beck
2 Entries
Kirste Lundgren
January 22, 2023
My name is Kirste Lundgren and I am Priscilla Hasler´s daughter. I called Barb when my mom passed unexpectedly in June 2021 and we spoke for quite sometime- I didn´t want to hang up; what a joy it was to talk to her. Barb was so very sad to hear the news and said; " now there´s only 2 of us left". She was always so very kind; sent my mom greeting cards on so many occasions. I would see them laying around my mom´s house-stamped from Waterloo IA. Gertrude McKusick was my grandma and I grew up in Northfield. I am so very sorry for your loss and you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Barb Dodd
January 2, 2023
Please accept my sympathy, I am so sorry for your loss. It was my privilege to know Barb while she was my neighbor at Landmark. I will be unable to attend her Celebration on Wednesday, but please know I will miss seeing her daily. She was such a sweet, dear person and she will be missed.
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