Lorraine Beck

Lorraine Beatrice (Chilman) Beck   1924-2019

Lorraine (Chilman) Beck, 95, passed away peacefully at Park River Estates Care Center on Thursday, October 3, 2019.  She was born in Isanti County, Bradford Township on June 30, 1924, to Edwin H. Chilman and Mildred C. (Nystrom) Chilman.  She graduated from Cambridge High School in 1942.  The summer before graduating she did housework for family friends and after graduation, she moved to Minneapolis to work for Henry Manufacturing where she helped in the manufacture of pup tents and later for Fisher Paper Box finishing boxes.  She married Oliver W. Beck on March 8, 1944 in San Diego, California.  They moved back to Minnesota after Oliver completed his military obligation and bought a small house in Columbia Heights on Jefferson Ave. where daughter Susan was born in 1946. They later moved to Monroe St., just a few blocks away where daughter Eileen was born in 1950 and son Gary in 1954.  As life prospered, they bought their last home in 1955 in Fridley where Lorraine lived for almost 60 years.  In 1957 they joined First Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights where Lorraine was baptized in the Lutheran faith.  She was a devoted wife and loving mother and spent all of her years at home caring for family.  In addition to raising her own family, she was a second mother to niece, Roxann, during her youth and willingly babysat her grandchildren whenever needed.  Lorraine also spent 25 years as primary care giver to husband, Oliver, as he struggled with deteriorating health due to cancer.  Lorraine was a great cook and always cooked elaborate meals for family events.   She loved to travel in their motor home, go camping with family, and was a huge fan of the Minnesota Twins.  Much of her spare time was spent crocheting and playing solitaire. During the last five years of her life she lived first at Crestview Assisted Living in Columbia Heights and then at Park River Estates Care Center in Coon Rapids.  She was preceded in death by husband, Oliver; sisters, Marian, Audrey and Harriet; and brother, Burton.  She is survived by daughters, Susan Sweet, Eileen (Craig) Norenberg; son, Gary (Wendy); grandchildren, Kris (Trent) Pearson, Anne Sweet, Ryan (Angi) Sweet, Lynette (Chuck) Sawicky, Teresa (Tony) Zech, Mindy Beck (Joe Passamano) and Nikki (Peter) DeFazio; 14 great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way; sister-in-law, Roscella Beck and many other relatives and friends.  She will be deeply missed by all!

Funeral service Saturday, October 12, 2019 ~ 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior at Miller Funeral Home, 6210 Hwy 65 NE, Fridley, MN (763) 571-1300. A luncheon will follow the service here at the funeral home. Interment will be held Saturday at 1:30 PM at Morningside Memorial Gardens, Coon Rapids, MN.

www.millerfuneralfridley.com