Beebe, Freda (1919-2013)

BEEBE, HANSEN, GILBERT, OLLENBURG, KRONE

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 9/23/2013 at 11:02:32

Freda Beebe
September 20, 1919 - August 20, 2013

FOREST CITY - Freda Beebe, 93, of Forest City, died at the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City on August 20, 2013.

Freda Pauline Beebe, a daughter of Herman and Helene Hansen, was born in rural Audubon, Iowa, on September 20, 1919. Both of her parents had immigrated to the United States, her father from Denmark and her mother from Germany.

Freda graduated from Audubon High School in 1938 and then attended the Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Marshalltown, Iowa, becoming a R.N. in 1941. Thereafter, she worked as a night supervisor at the Deaconess Hospital for three and one-half years. Later, she attended the University of Oregon where she earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Her nursing career, subsequently, took her to Fort Smith, Arkansas, the San Francisco area, Harlan, Iowa, and Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs where she taught nursing and established the Practical Nursing (P.N.) program. Many of her students would later say that they learned more from Freda than from anyone else.

She married Glen Beebe of Avoca on September 18, 1976, and they lived there until 1999 when, for health reasons, they moved to Forest City, Iowa, to be near her stepson, Raymond, his wife, Joan, and their family.

Having inspired her community in many ways, Freda received the "Inspiration Award" from the Avoca Business and Professional Association in 1991. The association noted that as an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, she had taught Sunday School and Bible School there for a number of years, delivered mobile meals to Avoca's homebound, served as President of the Avoca Federated Garden Club, taken the blood pressure of Avoca citizens once a month as an American Red Cross volunteer, and served as President of the Pottawattamie County American Cancer Society. Recognized for "giving of herself for the needs of others and never expecting anything in return," she received the "Quality of Life Award" from the American Cancer Foundation. Those in need in Avoca always knew that a call to Freda would "get the ball rolling" to find the needed assistance.

Upon marrying Glen, Freda assumed her new role as "Grandma" with lots of love and energy. She would take her grandchildren swimming, join them in a tent outside their house for a camping experience, play with them for endless hours, and generally support and encourage them in any way that she could. On their frequent visits to Forest City to see Raymond, Joan, and their children, Freda and Glen would always bring along some of her wonderful homemade breads and rolls and, in Raymond's case, her frosted Christmas cookies. The whole family came to expect and certainly enjoyed these treats.

When Freda and Glen moved to Forest City, they joined Immanuel Lutheran Church and enjoyed various activities at the Senior Center. Freda and Glen had been married for over twenty-four years when Glen died on March 6, 2001. In December of 2001, Freda moved to Forest Plaza as one of its first residents. She suffered from dementia and in time had to transfer to the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City. Even so, she never lost her smile, and she was well liked by the staff at Good Samaritan.

Freda is survived by her brothers, Dr. Bob Hansen, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Louis (Etta May) Hansen, of Lake Tapawingo, Missouri, and her sister, Mardelle Gilbert, of Audubon, Iowa; her stepsons, Richard Beebe, of Denver, Colorado, and Raymond (Joan) Beebe, of Forest City; six grandchildren, Stephen (Lara) Beebe, of Los Altos Hills, California, Michael Beebe, of Fort Collins, Colorado, Blane (Sara) Beebe, of Burnsville, Minnesota, Kristen (Dan) Ollenburg, of Clear Lake, William Beebe, of Forest City, and Jeff Beebe, also of Forest City; as well as by fourteen great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Helene Hansen; her husband, Glen; her brothers, Edgar, Alvin, and Marvin Hansen; and her sister, Erna Krone.

Only private family services will be held. Her body has been cremated and private inurnment will occur at a later date at Graceland Cemetery in Avoca, Iowa.

Copyright © 2013, Petersen Lund Funeral Home

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