Dorothy Marie (Beyer) Beck, 90, of Elkader, died peacefully Thursday, January 16, 2020, at the Elkader Care Center. She was born April 1, 1929, on the family farm in rural Elkader, the daughter of Otto Beyer and Anna Marie (Koehn) Beyer. She was baptized and confirmed at Peace Church in Elkader, and on November 20, 1947, also at Peace Church, was united in marriage to Gerald Beck. Incidentally, their wedding was the same day as the royal wedding of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. Dorothy and Gerald were inseparable and enjoyed 72 years of marriage. Two children were born to this union.
Dorothy was educated at the one room Denmark Country School in Reed Township. She worked as a farm wife, factory worker, and later as a custodian at Central Community School in Elkader. Dorothy is remembered for the lovely flower gardens that she and Gerald proudly cared for in the front yard of their retirement home on top of the hill, west of Clayton Center. Together they maintained their flower and vegetable gardens, cared for their fruit trees, canned all types of vegetables, and cut firewood. She loved visits from her loving children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren,nieces, nephews, and friends.
Survivors include her husband, Gerald; two children, Loren (Cynthia) Beck of Rock Falls, IL, and Karen Beck of Elkader; 4 grandchildren, Matthew (Lynn) Beck of Bartlett, IL, Jessica (Matthew) McCormick of South Elgin, IL, Kristina (Josh) Beachy of North Liberty, IA, and Jordan (Beth) Beck of Cedarburg, WI; 9 great grandchildren, Lucas Beck, Nora Beck, Nolan Beck, Zachary McCormick, Addison McCormick, Makayla Beachy, Wyatt Beachy, Elsa Beck, and Luther Beck.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Carl Beyer, and her sister, Wilma Wilke.
Memorial Services: 11:00 AM on Monday, January 20, 2020, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkader where friends may call after 9:30 AM until service time.
Inurnment: will be held at a later date.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Elkader is assisting the family.