Frances Amelia "Fanny" (Beckler) Dean (1857-1921)

BECKLER, DEAN, GREENWALD, FRIEDEL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/19/2015 at 22:40:06

From Nevada Journal October 26, 1921

DEAN FUNERAL HELD ON MONDAY

WELL KNOWN WIFE AND MOTHER LAID TO REST IN NEVADA CEMETERY

The funeral services for Mrs. Arthur Dean, whose death occurred at her home on Seventh Street, Saturday evening at half after seven o'clock were held Monday afternoon at 3:00 from Memorial Lutheran church, the sermon being by her pastor, Dr. C. M. Swihart.

Interment was in the Nevada cemetery following the services at the church, these rites being according to the ritualistic ceremonies of the Order of the Eastern Star of which she was a member.

The church was filled with relatives, neighbors and friends, as well as the members of the Eastern Star, for which seats had been reserved.

Death followed an illness of over a year but she had been bedfast but about a week previous to her entering into eternal rest.

Mrs. Dean had been a resident of Nevada just 25 years to the day from the time she came with her husband and family to take up their home in Nevada. During those many years she had made for herself a very warm place in the hearts of the people of the community with whom she had come in daily contact.

Mrs. Dean was native of Syracuse, New York, were she was born December 14, 1857. It was when she was 11 years of age that she left the old home in York state had came out to Sycamoure, Ill. where she took up her home with her eldest brother. There she continued to live until her marriage to Arthur Dean, which occurred in February of 1880.

They lived for twelve years upon a farm near Sycamore, Illinois, after which they moved to Elgin, where they remained a year. It was in 1896 that they moved out to Iowa, arriving in Nevada on October 22, of that year and this has continued to be the family home since.

Four children were born to this union, they being Byron M. Dean of Portland, Oregon, who arrived home 16 hours after the death of the mother, Harry Dean who passed away in Chicago November 9, 1917, Caroline M. Dean, now a teacher in the schools a Sioux Center and J. George Dean who with his wife lives in Nevada. The only grandson Edwin Dean, son of Harry Dean, who lives in Chicago arrived in the city in time for the funeral Monday afternoon.

Of her immediate family, besides the husband and children, she leaves two brothers and two sisters. The brothers are John Beckler of Sycamore, Ill., and George Beckler of Peoria, while the sisters are Mrs. Delia Greenwald, of Honolulu, Hawaii and Mrs. Mary Friedel of Syracuse, New York.

Mrs. Dean united with the St. Peter's Episcopal church while a resident of Sycamore, back in 1870, but after coming out to Iowa she united with Memorial Lutheran church in this city and had been an active and devoted member since.

She was also active in her church and charity work, as well as in the club and other social activities of the city. With it all, however, she was first devoted to her home and family and her church.

She loved her church, thought and planned and worked for it with a happy zeal. In all the activities of the church, it seemed as Mrs. Dean must be present doing her part. The church was ever in her mind. The day before her death she asked that a certain bouquet brought to her bed side might be taken to church on Sunday.

It can be said of her that "a noble woman full of good works had been called up higher." She shall be missed by many but she was ready for the church triumphant, for the home beyond the grave.

The pastor characterized her life as "The Hidden Life." Suggested by Paul in Col. 3:3--Your life is hid with Christ in God. The artists picture is first hidden in his heart and then placed on the canvas. The sculptor sees an image hidden in the stone and with the chisel reveals to the world his conception of the personality.

Mrs. Dean had hidden in her life the great truths and traits of the Christ life and these were revealed daily in a life of Prayer, Sacrifices, cheer and brightness.

A little girl in reading an old book, time worn, sat thoughtfully as the golden words were transferred to the receptive heart. Finally she paused held by the spell of the message and this was the prayer--"God make me beautiful within." Mrs. Dean must have prayed this many times.

The hidden life is also a Bright life. The oil hid in the lamp becomes a light to the room. Moses hid on the mountain top away from his people for forty days, came down with his face shining with a new brightness. It is this hidden life that helps to brighten the community.

Her body will be hid away in mother earth for a while. But it shall be raised glorified. The soul hid away in the body for a term of years, has been set free--glorified.

Well can we pray as we think of he Hidden Life--Rock of Ages cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee."

We shall continue to cherish with sincere gratefulness the memory of a beautiful and well spent life.

Among the relatives of the family who were here from a distance to attend the funeral services were two cousins, Mrs. Dora Beach of Sycamore, and Mrs. Ella Clark of Clare, Ill., her nephews Warner Whipple and his wife and Moses Court of Sycamore, Mrs. Cora Danforth of Genoa, a cousin of Mr. Dean and B. F. Whipple of Sycamore, a brother-in-law of Mr. Dean. Besides these were the son Byron M. Dean who arrived here from Portland, Oregon, a few hours after death and the grandson, Edwin Dean of Chicago.