Freda Beebe

FOREST CITY - Freda Beebe, 93, of Forest City, died at Good Samaritan Center in Forest City on August 20, 2013. There will be only private family services. Her body has been cremated and private inurnment will occur at a later date at Graceland Cemetery in Avoca, Iowa.

Freda Pauline Beebe, the daughter of Herman and Helene Hansen, was born in rural Audubon, IA. 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, IA, where she became a R.N. in 1941. She thereafter was night supervisor in Deaconess Hospital for three and one-half years. She later attended the University of Oregon where she received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Her nursing career took her to Fort Smith, Arkansas, the San Francisco area, Harlan, IA and Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs where she taught nursing and established the P.N. (Practical Nursing) program. Many of her students would later say that they learned more from Freda than 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, IA to be near her stepson, Raymond, his wife, Joan, and their family. Freda received the "Inspiration Award" from the Avoca Business and Professional Association in 1991 where it was noted that she had inspired her community in many ways including being an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and teaching Sunday School and Bible School there for a number of years, delivering mobile meals to Avoca's homebound, serving as President of the Avoca Federated Garden Club, active in the American Red Cross taking the blood pressure of Avoca citizens once a month, past President of the Pottawattamie County American Cancer Society and receiving the "Quality of Life Award" from the American Cancer Foundation and generally being recognized for "giving of herself for the needs of others and never expecting anything in return." 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 of 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 and Joan and their children, everyone came to expect and certainly enjoyed her wonderful homemade breads and rolls and in Raymond's case, her frosted Christmas cookies. Whenever someone in Avoca was in need they knew that a call to Freda would "get the ball rolling" to find the needed assistance. 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 24 years when Glen died on March 6, 2001. Freda moved to Forest Plaza in December 2001 as one of its first residents. Freda suffered from dementia and it later became necessary to transfer her to the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City. While suffering from the debilitating disease, Freda 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, CO, Louis (Etta May) Hansen of Lake Tapawingo, MO and her sister, Mardelle Gilbert of Audubon, IA; her stepsons, Richard Beebe of Denver, CO and Raymond (Joan) Beebe of Forest City; six grandchildren, Stephen (Lara) Beebe of Los Altos Hills, CA, Michael Beebe of Fort Collins, CO, Blane (Sara) Beebe of Burnsville, MN, Kristen (Dan) Ollenburg of Clear Lake, William Beebe of Forest City and Jeff Beebe of Forest City; and 14 great-grandchildren.

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