KESTERSON FAMILY GENEALOGY

Of

GEORGE ARTHUR BECKENHAUER
Manhattan KS

He was born Jan. 28, 1909, in Miranda, S. Dakota, the son of Herman and LoDema B. (Kesterson) Beckenhauer. He lived in South Dakota until 1932, when he moved to Morris County, Kansas, and then moved to Manhattan in 1944. He graduated from Faulkton High School in South Dakota, and later from Manhattan Area Vo-Tech in small engine repair. Mr. Beckenhauer farmed for several years, and then worked for the Kansas State University power plant, city of Manhattan water plant and later as a housing inspector. He worked retail for Sears, J.C. Penney and Waddell & Reed, and was a plumber for VanCura plumbing. He was a member of the First Christian Church and was a lifetime Elder. He was a former member of Optimist. Mr. Beckenhauer was devoted to his family and his family's activities. He also enjoyed gardening, playing cards, horseshoes, woodworking, crossword puzzles, poetry, golf, fishing and a good laugh.

On May 24, 1936, in Delavan, he was married to Margaretha Stalter. Mrs. Beckenhauer survives of the home. Additional survivors include five children, James A. Beckenhauer and his wife Peggy, of Mesa, Ariz., Barbara K. Vitt and her husband Gregory, of Seneca, Ardis A. Holland and her husband Steve of Lincoln, Neb., Robert L Beckenhauer and his wife Carol, of San Jose, Calif., and Charles D. Beckenhauer and his wife Jaylie, of Waco, Texas. He is also survived by two brothers, Dr. Neil Beckenhauer of Manhattan and Rolland Beckenhauer of Watsonville, Calif.; nine grandchildren, Christopher, Joe and David Vitt, Matthew Lewis, Jefferson and Heather Holland, Elisa Stanosheck, Eric and Chandler Beckenhauer; and 10 great grandchildren, Monika, Andrew and Josh Graber, Jeremy, Ryan, Amanda, Amy and Jordan Vitt, Shaunna Brink and Jordyn Jones. He was preceded in death by two granddaughters, Bernadette Graber and Shannon Holland; three brothers, Charles, Harold and William Beckenhauer; and three sisters, Leah Wiggins, Ardith Johnson and Mary Purcell. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church with George Bever and Karl Bunjes officiating. Interment will follow in Sunrise Cemetery in Manhattan. The family of Mr. Beckenhauer will receive friends from 7 until 8 p.m. Friday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church or the Kansas State University Foundation for the Center for Basic Cancer Research. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan, 66502.

Contributed by Cliff Bowlin from the Manhattan Mercury 11 August 2000

Mary Margaretha Beckenhauer, 90, a longtime Manhattan resident, died Tuesday at Crestview Manor in Seneca where she had been a resident for the past four and a half years. She was born July 19, 1914, in Delavan, the daughter of Christian and Grace (Atwood) Stalter. Mrs. Beckenhauer graduated from Delavan High School in 1930 and then received her teaching certificate from Kansas State Teacher's College in Emporia in 1932. She taught school for three years and then married George Arthur Beckenhauer on May 24, 1936, in Delavan. She was a licensed representative for Waddell and Reed and then worked in the office for many years. Mrs. Beckenhauer was a member of the First Christian Church in Manhattan, and the Riverside Club. Her family said she enjoyed gardening, tending her flowers and roses, textile painting, and took up golf in her 50s. She made floral arrangements for the church for many years from her flower garden. Mr. Beckenhauer preceded her in death on Aug. 9, 2000. She was also preceded in death by two granddaughters: Bernadette Graber and Shannon Holland.

Survivors include five children, James A. Beckenhauer and wife Peggy of Mesa, Ariz., Barbara K. Vitt and husband Gregory of Seneca, Ardis A. Holland and husband Steve of Lincoln, Neb., Robert L. Beckenhauer and wife Carol of Roseville, Calif., and Charles D. Beckenhauer and wife Jaylie of Waco, Texas; two brothers, James Stalter of Bellevue, Wash., and Stanley Stalter of Topeka; nine grandchildren, Christopher, Joe and David Vitt, Mathew Lewis, Jefferson and Heather Holland, Elisa Znamenacek, and Eric and Chandler Beckenhauer; and 11 great grandchildren, Monika, Andrew and Josh Graber; Jeremy, Ryan, Amanda, Amy, Jordan and Katelyn Vitt; Shaunna Brink and Jordyn Jones. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ with Rev. Neil Engle officiating. Burial will follow in Sunrise Cemetery in Manhattan. The family of Mrs. Beckenhauer will receive friends from 7 until 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.ymlfuneralhome.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church or the Alzheimer's Disease Association. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan 66502.

Contributed by Cliff Bowlin from the Manhattan Mercury 5 May 2005

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