Barbara Beckman

Barbara Lou Weeks Beckman, 81, passed away at her Idaho Falls home on December 2, 2015, due to complications with cancer. She was attended by loved ones at the time of her death.

She was born July 14, 1934, in Idaho Falls, the third child born to Thomas and Margaret Weeks of Swan Valley, Idaho. Her siblings, Dr. Byron T. Weeks (deceased), Janice Weeks Thornburg, and Winston C. Weeks. She attended Idaho Falls High School, where she excelled in journalism, graduating as valedictorian in 1952.

She met her future husband, Donald H. Beckman, of Worland, Wyoming, at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She and Don married in the Idaho Falls Temple in 1953.

After Don entered the U.S. Air Force the following year, they moved to Roswell, New Mexico, where he was stationed. There, in 1955, their first child, Donald David Beckman was born. Her second son, Jack Lesley Beckman, was born in Idaho Falls the following year. Their daughter, Deanna Lynn Beckman (Batte), was born in Roswell in 1957. Dennis Keith Beckman was born in Denver, Colorado, in 1959.

After all of her children had entered elementary school, Barbara returned to college, first, to Ricks College in Rexburg, then again to BYU, where she graduated with a degree in Education in 1971. She developed a passion for teaching and taught school at Ucon Elementary, Hillview Elementary, and at Victor Elementary. She also served as the drill team advisor at Teton High School in Driggs. Under her direction, her drill teams were awarded many first place trophies.

After moving back to Idaho Falls, she was owner and Educational Director of Children’s World of Learning pre-school and kindergarten. She loved teaching and interacting with the children. She instilled a love of learning in not only her own children, but in those she taught.

Don and Barbara shared passions in travel and crafts, and they traveled around the West attending craft shows. She also was a master gardener, and wherever she lived her home was resplendent with a variety of garden flowers. They had a habit of purchasing properties that were in sore need of repair and transforming them into beautiful, warm and inviting places to live.

Barbara is survived by her husband and her children, as well as 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in by her parents and her older brother Byron.

She will be greatly missed by her family and friends, who are also comforted to know that she no longer must contend with her pain, and that she is in a place of unconditional love.

A memorial and gathering for family and friends is scheduled at 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 9, 2015, at Wood Funeral Home at 273 North Ridge, Idaho Falls. Friends and family are invited to attend and a dinner will be served following at 1860 Kearney, in Idaho Falls. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com

Memorial Gathering will be held