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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Lester Thomas
Beck
Jun 10, 1925 — Aug 3, 2010
Obituary
LesterThomas Beck, 85, son of the late William Luther Beck and Grace Pearl Copeland Beck, died August 3, 2010 at Quail Creek Nursing Home in Springfield, Mo.
Les was born June 10, 1925, in St. Louis, Mo., and grew up on Upper Logan Creek in Reynolds County, Mo.
He served in the United States Navy from 1943-46 aboard the USS Rudyerd Bay, an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Theatre, where he earned four battle stars, including the Invasion of Iwo Jima and Battle of Okinawa.
On July 4, 1946, Les married LaVera Jean Stripling at the Claude Stripling home in Ellington. The couple had five children. They divorced in 1973.
Les was a professional photographer early in life, and successful advertising and insurance salesman in his later years. From 1956-1970 he served as an Assemblies of God pastor in the Missouri towns of Vanduser, Doniphan, DeSoto, Van Buren, Nevada, Marionville and Carthage.
In 1980, Les and Rose Spychalski of Springfield began a close friendship that resulted in nearly 30 years of caring companionship, and lasted until his death.
Les is survived by four daughters; Donna (Mike) Boden of Branson; Diane (Ken) Anderson of Nixa; Karen (Steve) Butts of Ozark; and Kristi (Arlen) Thompson of Louisburg, Ks.; one son, Ken (Debbie) Beck of Ellington; and 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Wanda (Steve) DeClue of Potosi, and Mary (Russ) Luecke of St. Louis; four brothers, Glen (Dorothy) Beck of Chesterfield, Doyle (Linda) Beck of Potosi, R.L. (Charlotte) Beck of Potosi, and Vic (Joan) Beck of St. Louis; and two sisters-in-law, Marie Kern Beck of St. Louis, and Pauline Pogue Beck of Owensville.
Les was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Pauline Beck McIntosh of Winfield; and two brothers, Earl Seamon Beck of Owensville, and Lee Roy Beck of St. Louis.
Visitation: Sunday, 4 to 8 P.M.
Funeral Services: Monday, August 9, 2010 at 10 A.M.McSpadden Funeral Home, Ellington, Mo
Ministers: Ken Beck assisted by Ken Anderson
Burial: Polk Memorial Cemetery
Pallbearers: Ken Anderson, Mike Boden, Steve Butts, Arlen Thompson, Travis Thompson, Kyle Thompson, Lucas Thompson Levi Butts and Caleb Butts.
Arrangements by McSpadden Funeral Homes, Inc. Ellington, Missouri
In lieu of flowers: American Cancer Society
Les was born June 10, 1925, in St. Louis, Mo., and grew up on Upper Logan Creek in Reynolds County, Mo.
He served in the United States Navy from 1943-46 aboard the USS Rudyerd Bay, an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Theatre, where he earned four battle stars, including the Invasion of Iwo Jima and Battle of Okinawa.
On July 4, 1946, Les married LaVera Jean Stripling at the Claude Stripling home in Ellington. The couple had five children. They divorced in 1973.
Les was a professional photographer early in life, and successful advertising and insurance salesman in his later years. From 1956-1970 he served as an Assemblies of God pastor in the Missouri towns of Vanduser, Doniphan, DeSoto, Van Buren, Nevada, Marionville and Carthage.
In 1980, Les and Rose Spychalski of Springfield began a close friendship that resulted in nearly 30 years of caring companionship, and lasted until his death.
Les is survived by four daughters; Donna (Mike) Boden of Branson; Diane (Ken) Anderson of Nixa; Karen (Steve) Butts of Ozark; and Kristi (Arlen) Thompson of Louisburg, Ks.; one son, Ken (Debbie) Beck of Ellington; and 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Wanda (Steve) DeClue of Potosi, and Mary (Russ) Luecke of St. Louis; four brothers, Glen (Dorothy) Beck of Chesterfield, Doyle (Linda) Beck of Potosi, R.L. (Charlotte) Beck of Potosi, and Vic (Joan) Beck of St. Louis; and two sisters-in-law, Marie Kern Beck of St. Louis, and Pauline Pogue Beck of Owensville.
Les was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Pauline Beck McIntosh of Winfield; and two brothers, Earl Seamon Beck of Owensville, and Lee Roy Beck of St. Louis.
Visitation: Sunday, 4 to 8 P.M.
Funeral Services: Monday, August 9, 2010 at 10 A.M.McSpadden Funeral Home, Ellington, Mo
Ministers: Ken Beck assisted by Ken Anderson
Burial: Polk Memorial Cemetery
Pallbearers: Ken Anderson, Mike Boden, Steve Butts, Arlen Thompson, Travis Thompson, Kyle Thompson, Lucas Thompson Levi Butts and Caleb Butts.
Arrangements by McSpadden Funeral Homes, Inc. Ellington, Missouri
In lieu of flowers: American Cancer Society
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