Marjorie Frances Beckman

Marjorie Frances (Haymond) Beckman, 92, of Bozeman, Mont., passed away Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, at Spring Creek Inn Memory Care.

Cremation has taken place at Franzen-Davis Crematory. A memorial funeral service will be held 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 31, at First Baptist Church in Bozeman with Pastor Jason Bowker and Commander Abe Thompson, US Navy (Ret.), officiating. A reception will follow the memorial service. Graveside committal and burial will follow the reception at Mountain View Cemetery in Livingston, Mont.

Marjorie was born Jan. 12, 1926, in Livingston, the daughter of Carl S. and Rosa May (Poore) Haymond. She received her education in Bozeman and Livingston, graduating at the age of 16 and later enrolling at Montana State College. While at MSC, Marjorie met Army Air Corp 1st Lieutenant, Donald C. Beckman, from Roundup, Mont., at the Livingston First Baptist Church Cherry Pie Social. Don won her heart and they were married Jan. 7, 1945, at Kirtland Field, Albuquerque, N. M., where Don was a pilot instructor. After the war ended, they returned to Bozeman to finish their educations at Montana State. Marjorie received a degree in bacteriology and Don in mechanical engineering.

Upon graduation, Don was hired by the Corps of Engineers for a "one-year" engineering assignment at the Fort Peck Dam Project. Thirty years later, Don retired from the Corps of Engineers as area engineer. Together, she and Don raised their family, Frances, Donna, DonAl and Denise, in the Fort Peck and rural Glasgow, Mont., area, farming and ranching, with 4-H being a priority for everyone in the family. She was an active member of the Glasgow School Board and AAUW and was very involved in other service organizations. She and Don became self-taught experts in geology and paleontology. Throughout their time in northeastern Montana, Marjorie entertained 4-star generals, dignitaries and university paleontologists from around the world.

Marjorie was a rifle markswoman, harvested wild game and after Don's retirement co-founded their engineering and land surveying business, Beckman Engineering. Some winters instead of going "South" they would go to college. They taught at MSU-Northern, Havre, for a few years after Don's retirement. Marjorie taught microbiology and water quality while Don taught construction engineering and land surveying. The students loved them both. In the summers they would take their trailer to Polebridge, Mont., and work on building a family cabin. The highlight of their years was spending this time together and meeting new friends wherever they went.

Marjorie's life was devoted to her husband and family. When he passed away at an early age of 68, it left her with a very big hole to fill and a life to reinvent. She did so in typical Marjorie-fashion, by taking care of her own mother and grandchildren. She volunteered her time and talents to her church, the Museum of the Rockies Docent program and many other service organizations. Marjorie was recently honored as an Extraordinary Ordinary Woman of Montana State University, an award that recognizes MSU alumni women who have had an impact on the status of women at MSU and have inspired others by their example. Marjorie taught us about unconditional love, enduring faithfulness, patience and empathy. Her spirit remains with all of those who were blessed to have known her and we honor her by pursuing our passions and dreams.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Rosa May Haymond; husband Donald C. Beckman; two sisters, Ethel Christianson and Betty Gladish; and one brother, Donald R. Haymond.

She is survived by her two sisters, Helen Thompson, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Linda Lester, of Littleton, Colo .; daughter Frances (Jim) Yuhas, of Mosier, Ore .; grandchildren Kathy Dehning, Ann Yuhas and Christy (Brian) VanDaele; daughter Donna (John) Paulson, of Missoula, Mont .; grandchildren BJ (Angie) Paulson and Brad Paulson; son DonAl (Jean) Beckman, of Lynden, Wash .; grandchildren Laura (Baldwin) Goodell, Melissa (Nate) Rothbauer and Mike Beckman; daughter Denise (Kurt) Palmquist, of Bozeman; grandchildren Erik Palmquist and Blake Palmquist; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank all the caregivers, nurses and administration of Spring Creek Inn Memory Care in Bozeman for your loving care of our mother and grandmother, Marjorie, as she endured the effects of Alzheimer's disease with grace and humility. We pray for a cure.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Marjorie's name be made either to: The Museum of the Rockies, Opening Doors for Montana School Children Fund, contact: Kathryn [email protected]; or, AAUW, The Leadership Programs Fund (#4339), ww2.aauw.org/donate-gift.

Arrangements are under the care of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences may be shared at franzen-davis.com.