Marlys Van Beek

Marlys Van Beek

Marlys Van Beek, a loving wife, mother, and grandmother went to be with her Lord on October 20, 2015 at the age of 76.

Marlie was born on July 1, 1939 to Sam and Wilhelmina Weg in Worthington, MN.  In 1944, the family moved from their farm near Bigelow, MN to their new farm in Worthington, MN.  She attended a one-room school until she was in 5th grade and then went to Worthington Christian School for 4 years.  Because there was not a Christian high school in Worthington, she boarded in Hull, Iowa for her sophomore, junior and senior years so that she could attend and graduate from Western Christian High School in 1957. She attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI for one year where she met the love of her life, Marvin Van Beek (thank goodness for Sadie Hawkins)!  She then attended Roseland School of Nursing in Chicago and graduated as an RN in 1961.

Marvin and Marlys were scheduled to be married on October 13, 1961 but they had to change the date to September 22 due to Marvin’s army obligations and being called to serve in the Berlin Crisis.  In 1962 they welcomed their first child, Mark, and moved to Denver the following year.  In 1964 their daughter, Melonie was born.

Marlys continued her nursing profession until retiring in 1997 to serve full time as Grandma Beeker.

Marlys is preceeded in death by her parents, her Husband Marvin, a sister Evelyn Kuiper, a brother Alfred Weg, brother-in-law Don Van Beek, sister-in-law Helen Van Beek and a nephew Dan Van Beek. She is survived by her children Mark (Darcy) from Belgrade, MT and Melonie (Jon) from Tumwater, WA.  Grandchildren Sam and Miranda Van Beek and Brooke and Luke Hare.  Additional family includes one sister, Deloris (Al) Veltman, sister-in-law Martha Weg, sister-in-law Jean Van Beek, brother and sister-in-law Bill and Ida Van Beek, brother-in-law Clary (Nancy) Kuiper and numerous nephews and nieces.

Extended family includes her dear friends and neighbors of this community whom we know she cherished.

As family we would like to thank each of you for coming and celebrating our mom and grandmother, Marlys ‘Marlie’ Van Beek.

Thank you for all the many expressions of sympathy, words of encouragement and hope and especially the stories of joy that she brought to so many.  Your love and prayers are what will continue to sustain us through this difficult time.