Marion Russell Beckey

Marion Russell Beckey

March 21, 1914 ~ July 30, 2017

Marion Russell Beckey, our beloved family patriarch, passed away from complications of old age…103 years young!

Marion was born on March 21, 1914, in Linwood, Kansas, to Earl Durward Beckey and Ann Girton Springer. Marion had one sister and three brothers who all preceded him in death.

Marion came to Ogden, Utah in 1937 to attend the Smithsonian Business College, which was operated by Marion’s uncle Charles Springer. Coming from Kansas he fell in love with the beautiful mountains. It was at the business college that he met his lifelong sweetheart, Mary Norris. He said, “The prettiest blonde I had ever seen greeted me at the reception desk on my first day at the business college.”  They had been married 55 years when Mary passed away in 1993.

Marion and Mary had three children: Bruce (Judy) Beckey, Karlene (Reese) Wells, and Joyce (Jay) Schmitt.  His posterity includes 9 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-grandchildren. Marion’s grandchildren have many fond memories of camping, fishing, backpacking, skiing, and gardening with Grandpa. Grandpa could fix anything…from cars to curling irons. ‘Just take it to Grandpa’ was the family motto. Marion built his own home in North Ogden in 1953 and lived there until one year before his death when he moved to the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home.

After graduating from business college Marion began work at the Amalgamated Sugar Company where he was Assistant Purchasing Agent until he retired in 1976 after 38 years.

Marion was drafted into the Army and served during World War II as a clerk, being honorably discharged as a corporal.  He was assigned to the 29th Replacement Depot near Manila in the Philippines. He was one of the last ones to come home as his job was to process the paperwork for the troops coming home at the end of the war.

Marion always marveled as he reflected on all the events, inventions, and advances he had seen over his long life. He was an avid reader and conversations with Marion were always interesting and informative. He knew his geography!

Marion was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; son, Bruce; son-in-law, Jay; and grandson, Jonathan.

Thank you to all the loving caregivers at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Home who cared for Marion the last year of his life.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. at Lindquist’s North Ogden Mortuary, 2140 N. Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Saturday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the mortuary. Interment will be at 3 p.m. at Ben Lomond Cemetery, North Ogden, where military honors will be accorded.