Loretta Jean (Grauerholz) Beckmann went to meet her Lord on January 11, 2024, at SunPorch of Smith County in Smith Center, Kansas. She was born on August 23, 1929, on a farm near Cedar, Kansas. She was the second child of Walter and Frieda (Hermanns) Grauerholz. She was baptized on September 15, 1929, by Pastor Alfred Fleishman and confirmed on April 18, 1943, by Pastor Fred Efenbeck at St. John Lutheran Church, Athol, Kansas.
She attended Silver Ridge Grade School and graduated from Athol High School in 1947. She attended Bethany College one year and taught country school one year.
She was married to Fred Beckmann on April 30, 1950, by Pastor George Dirks also at St. John Lutheran, where she was a lifelong member. To this union were born two children: Duane and Cheryl.
In addition to being a farm wife and homemaker, she was employed at Smith Center Memorial Hospital from 1975-1995. Her greatest joys were her children and grandchildren.
Music was very important to her, and she was involved with music at her church in multiple ways. She directed the men’s choir for many years, sang in the ladies’ trio, planned special music, and played the organ for worship. She was also active in the St. John’s Lutheran Woman and served on many committees. She was on the history committee for the church’s centennial in 1994 and planned all the music for that celebration.
Fred and Loretta made many trips to Colorado to see their children and grandchildren. Many special memories were made on trips with their daughter and her family. Another highlight was a cruise to Alaska as a 50th anniversary gift from Duane, who accompanied them. Many years later she traveled to Washington D.C. and many historic sites in the area with her daughter Cheryl and granddaughter Jessica, and another memorable trip was to San Diego with Duane and his daughter Tashina.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother, Waldean Grauerholz, and eight brothers and sisters-in-law and numerous friends.
She is survived by her son, Duane Beckmann, and daughter, Cheryl (Kevin) Schenk; grandchildren: Shea Beckmann and finace Mariia Shteiher, Tashina (Nicholas) King, Jessica (Ryan) Welker; great-grandchildren: Isokan and Akoni King; sister Corrina (Ray) Haresnape, brother Delbert (Shirley) Grauerholz, sister-in-law Blondina Kuhlmann, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family wishes to convey that Loretta's wishes are for memorial contributions to be made to one of the organizations listed below in lieu of flowers.