Iva LaVera Beckman of Hill City, Kansas died March 9, 2025, five days after her 87th birthday. She was born to Elmer and Katherine (Donnelly) Hall on the family farm. The family grew and it certainly was a house full of girls: Iva LaVera, Norma Jean, Elma Kay, Trudy Ann, and Kathy Sue.
In the fall of 1944, Iva entered first grade at the Pleasant Hill Country School. It was a one-room school attended by children in all eight grades. By her third-grade year, there was a school consolidation, so she went to Penokee Grade School. There were four in her class. Iva graduated in the Hill City High School Class of 1956.
She then moved to Denver, Colorado, enrolling at Parks Business College, graduating from there in December of 1956. She hurried home on the train for a quick Christmas visit and then back for her first job with the Martin Company. Iva was living there with her Uncle Frank and Aunt Lottie Welty, sharing a room with her cousin Lila.
Iva, with the help of Uncle Frank, purchased her first car so she could drive to her new job at Fort Logan. It was the first and last car she ever bought.
At a dance in Lenora, Iva met Calvin Beckman. The couple were married at the Congregational Church in Lenora, June 7, 1959. They enjoyed 60 wonderful years together. The family grew to four with the birth of Wanda and later Lonnie. The couple made their home in Graham County for the rest of their lives. Later in life, they left the country life and moved to Hill City. Calvin passed away December 18, 2019.
The North Star Community, where they made their rural home, was a community of farm families. Planting, cultivating, and harvesting were usually the main topics when they all got together. However, the ladies, known as the “North Star Neighbors”, got together for their monthly “meetings” at the old North Star School House. The topics there were usually children, recipes, gardens, and sewing. Once a month, on Saturday evening, the couples gathered for Pinochle. Those were the best times, filled with sometimes serious card hands, stories, and always laughter.
As any farm wife knows, being busy was the norm: caring for the home, gathering for meals at the dinner table or out in the field, gardening, and sometimes helping round up cattle, moving machinery, or anything else that needed tending. In her spare time Iva tended to her beautiful array of flowers and crocheted afghans, gifting one to each of her grandchildren for graduation.
Iva also worked at Rural Telephone Service Company as a secretary for close to 30 years. She was active in her church and was a member of Rebekahs Lodge of IOOF (Independent Order of Odd Fellows).
Iva was preceded in death by her parents; husband Calvin; sisters: Elma Kay LeBeau, and Trudy Metcalf; brothers-in-law: Walter LeBeau, Phil Miller, John “Bill” Metcalf, Galen Covalt, Joe Berry and Alvin Beckman; and sister-in-law Geneva Berry.
Survivors include her daughter, Wanda (Mike) Vincent of Norton; her son, Lonnie (Jacque) Beckman of Lenora; grandchildren: Heath (Laurie) Vincent of Wamego, Tabitha (Jake) Stalder of Beaver City, Nebraska, Clayton (Allie) Beckman of Lenora, Garen (Elianys) Beckman of Watauga, Texas, Zoie Beckman of Lenora; 11 great grandchildren; foster grandson Tanner Herskowitz of Lenora; and sisters Norma Jean Miller of Blue Rapids, Kansas and Kathy Sue Covalt of Hill City.
Iva was a kind and loving lady, always ready and willing to help others. We will miss her lovely smile and cheerful personality.
Memorials may be made to the United Parish in Lenora, Kansas.