June 15, 1915 - Nov. 7, 2005
BIRD ISLAND -- Emmet Beckman, 90, of Maplewood, formerly of Bird Island, died Monday at Maplewood Care Center in Maplewood.
The service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Bird Island. Burial will be at Bird Island City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Dirks-Blem Funeral Home in Bird Island, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m., and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.
He was born June 15, 1915, in Renville to Elmer and Eleanor (Peterson) Beckman. He graduated from Renville High School in 1933. He started work as a bookkeeper for Bird Island Shipping Association in 1937.
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He married Cecelia Kronlokken on Sept. 29, 1940, in Renville. They lived in Bird Island for 56 years. He owned and operated the Bird Island Livestock Association for 18 years. He accepted an appointment as Postmaster of the Bird Island Post Office in 1955. He later transferred to a rural carrier position and delivered mail to rural Bird Island residents for over 20 years.
He was active in both civic and church organizations. He was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Bird Island, where he served as a leader of the Sunday school, member of the church council and later performed years of custodial duties. He was a member of the Bird Island Fire Department for 20 years, was a 4-H leader for several years, served on the board of the Renville County Fair, was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, and a member of the Bird Island Lions Club.
He is survived by his children: Corrine (and Allan) Petersen, Bruce (and Mary) Beckman, Ron (and Anita) Beckman, Jerry (and Bev) Beckman, Diane (and Stan) Williams; 16 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and siblings: Elsie Spillman, Leona Dolezal and Arnell Beckman.
He was preceded in death by his wife; daughter: Barbara; and one brother.
