Jody E. Beck (December 1, 1950 ~ July 13, 2010) Jody Elgene Beck. . . . was born December 1, 1950, in Montevideo, Minnesota, to Eugene and Ethel (Willander) Beck. He was baptized on January 7, 1951, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Sparta Township. On March 29, 1964, he was confirmed at the Augustana Lutheran Church in Clarkfield, Minnesota. Jody attended school in Clarkfield through the 11th grade, at which time he decided to assist his father full time in their farming operation. He and his father, Eugene, farmed a considerable amount of acres in the Clarkfield/Montevideo area. He farmed with his father until his father's death on December 30, 1973. Jody married Janis Ruether on June 16, 1972. To this union one son, Jonathan, and four daughters, Jeanna, Joni, Jessica and Jasmin were born. He also welcomed into their home Janis' daughter, Jennifer. In 1977, Jody, Janis, Jennifer and Jonathan moved to the Dalhart, Texas area where Jody developed farmland until 1979. The family then relocated back to Minnesota and onto the original Beck homestead just northeast of Montevideo. Jody, several of his uncles and friends built the house where the young family lived. During the 1980s, Jody had a custom combining operation where he and his crew harvested from Oklahoma all the way up into North Dakota. Jody was always sad to leave his family during these months and greatly looked forward to being back with them at the end of the harvest season. Later after growing weary of the hard life on the road with the harvest crew, he would do custom harvesting or tillage locally for some of his friends and neighbors. Jody and Janis later divorced in 1991. He kept busy with his many different interests. He operated a automobile core buying business for many years with his routes traversing across many of the upper Midwestern States. During one of his trips through Nebraska, Jody met Joanne Zelenka on August 6, 1999. The following July, Joanne moved from Nebraska to Minnesota. Jody and "Jo" made their home together and eventually married on June 25, 2010. Jody greatly enjoyed fishing, especially on the Missouri River near Mobridge, South Dakota. Winter time would find him anxious to get his fish house out on Lac qui Parle Lake. He was a very talented and creative man who was as comfortable welding, building, and fixing things in his shop, as he was cooking delicious foods from his kitchen. His greatest love though, was spending time with his family. Jody's health began to fail in 2008. In May 2010 he was briefly hospitalized. He returned to his home on June 1, 2010, where with the help of Hospice, Jo and loving family members, he was able to remain until his passing on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, at the age of 59 years, 7 months and 12 days. Jody is survived by his wife, Jo; children: Jennifer, Jonathan, Jeanna, Joni, Jessica, Jasmin, and Jo's daughter, Shannon and her children Jake and Ella. He is also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents. He will be greatly missed by his family and his many friends. Blessed be his memory. In Loving Memory of Jody E. Beck Visitation Friday, July 16, 2010 ~ 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service 6:30 p.m. Augustana Lutheran Church Funeral Service Saturday, July 17, 2010 ~ 1:30 p.m. Augustana Lutheran Church, Clarkfield, Minnesota Clergy Officiating Pastor Allan E. Johnson Scripture Psalm 100 Organist, Bill Houston Congregational Hymns (Processional) "Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling" "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know" (Recessional) "I Am Jesus Little Lamb" Honorary Casket Bearers His future sons-in-law ~ other cousins and his close friends Casket Bearers (Jody's 1st Cousins) Howard Willander ~ Kerry Charlet Wayde Peterson ~ Aaron Willander Tom Willander ~ Scott Willander Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota