Kathleen Avon Beckman

Kathleen A. Beckman, 87, of Des Moines, died Wednesday, January 7, at Scottish Rite Park.

Kathleen, daughter of Harold and Fern Fuller, was born July 27, 1927, in her grandparents’ home in Bricelyn, Minn. She attended grade school at the Bennett School on Fuller Road through fifth grade. The school was named after her paternal grandmother’s family and Fuller Road was named after her grandfather. After fifth grade, she then moved to Waukee, Iowa, where she graduated from Waukee High School in 1944 with most of the boys in her class already off to war. She completed one year of undergraduate education at Maryville State Teachers College in Missouri.

She worked in the office of Iowa Paint for 14 years, during which time she enjoyed a single life filled with excitement and travel highlighted by a vacation to the former Soviet Union in 1957 with “Don Soliday’s Holidays.” Years after her friends had married and had children, Kathleen met her husband and married in 1960. Kathleen and Donald first lived in Denver, Colo., and later in Columbus, Ohio, where their children, Lori and Jeff, were born in 1960 and 1962, respectively.

In 1965, the family returned to Des Moines where her husband Don established a medical practice. They were 50-year members of Windsor United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Donald Beckman; children Lori Beckman of Dove Canyon, Calif., and Jeffrey Beckman of Lititz, Pa.; and six grandchildren: triplets Kyle, Brenna, and Nicole Conway and their younger brother, Conor, of Dove Canyon, Calif.; and Hanna and Ethan Beckman of Lititz, Pa.

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life service will be held at Scottish Rite Park on Sunday, January 18, at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Windsor United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

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