Jeffrey Owen Beckel

Mass of Christian Burial for Jeffrey O. Beckel, 59, Aberdeen, will be 1:30pm Monday, April 11, 2011 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 409 3rd Ave. SE.  Father Kevin Zilverberg will officiate.  Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery, with military rites by the Sidney L. Smith American Legion, Post #24 of Aberdeen.  Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Ave. NW, is in charge of arrangements.

Liturgical wake service will be 3:00pm Sunday, April 10, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  Visitation will be 5-7pm Saturday, April 9, at the mortuary and one hour prior to both services at the church. Jeff passed away Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at his home.

Jeffrey Owen Beckel was born July 26, 1951 to Kenneth and Marjorie (Aggen) Beckel at Aberdeen where he was raised, attended Sacred Heart Parochial School and graduated from Roncalli High School in 1969. After his graduation from high school, Jeff attended Northern State College, taking general courses until he entered the US Army in January of 1970.  After five months of basic training at Fort Lewis, WA, Jeff served in Vietnam until February of 1973.  After his honorable discharge from the Army, Jeff moved to the Black Hills and went back to school attending Black Hills State College in Spearfish. He graduated in December of 1975 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Arts.

Jeff married Linda MacDaniel in June of 1975 in Aberdeen. They resided in Spearfish and Fargo.  After their divorce in 1978, Jeff returned to Spearfish and worked as a carpenter.  He continued to work in the field of construction until a car accident on April 2, 1981 left him paralyzed from the neck down.

After rehabilitation, Jeff moved to Mom and Dad's Nursing Home in Sioux Falls and later to a nursing home in Alcester, SD. In June of 1983, Jeff moved back to Aberdeen with the assistance of personal caregivers; Diane Meyer, Roxane Ludwig, Kim & Wayne Beck, Carlotta (Clifford) Fowler, Lisa Johnson and for the past twenty-two years, Ivan Iverson.

Jeff spent his days reading the Bible and praying to our Lord Jesus Christ and praising our Lord.  He never stopped loving his family and friends. Jeff was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church for many years.

Surviving Jeff are his mother, Marjorie Beckel of Aberdeen, four sisters, Barbara (David) Overland, Sioux Falls, SD, Patricia (Robin) Johnson, Lake Shore, MN, Kimberly (Tim) Washenberger of Mina Lake and Lisa (Norris) Tiensvold of Sioux Falls, one brother, David (Jean) Beckel of Aberdeen, 26 nieces and nephews (including their spouses) and 22 great nieces and nephews, and his dedicated care giver of twenty-two years, Ivan Iverson and his dog Ricky.

Jeff was preceded in death by his father, one infant brother, Timothy, one sister, Roxana, his grandparents and several aunts and uncles.

Family prefers memorials to SD Right To Life, Birthright Inc., Sacred Heart Church, The Aberdeen Catholic School System, to the Diocese of Sioux Falls Seminarian Program or a charity of your choice, in lieu of flowers.

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