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Nov. 23, 1932-Sept. 21, 2026
Sawyer
George Beck, 93, longtime Sawyer, ND area farmer, died Monday, September 21, 2026 in a Garrison nursing home.
George was born at home, near Sawyer, to Albert and Martha (Schuerer) Beck November 23, 1932. He had 1 brother and 7 sisters. George farmed with his father from an early age, and when he was in his mid-twenties he worked two winters in Fresno, CA, where he met his wife. George married Doris Neufeld at the Mennonite Brethren Church in 1958.
He had a sweet nature and was an expert at making babies smile. Among his many pleasures were fishing, collecting John Deere models, listening to Bill Gaither music and building and driving go-carts with his youngest son.
His faith in Jesus was an important thing to him from the time he accepted Christ at age 5. He enjoyed 4-part harmony, singing in men’s quartet and led men’s choir. He served at Sawyer Mennonite Church and Our Redeemers in Minot, working in disaster relief, serving as a deacon, visiting residents and helping with chapel at Edgewood Assisted Living. At family supper, George often would read scripture and when a verse was especially meaningful to him, he would say, “wow!”
George dealt with his disability heroically when diagnosed in 1989 with spastic paraplegia, a slowly progressing neuro-muscular disease. With no complaints, he creatively adapted to it, farming for 11 more years. In June of this year, he was admitted to Garrison Memorial Hospital skilled nursing care where he started hospice care and entered heaven on September 21 at 1:30 am with his wife at his side.
He was preceded in death by parents Albert and Martha Beck, son Marty Beck, and sisters Alma Tabor Lutes, Evelyn Ironhawk, Irene Reiswig Potts and Ruth Wiebe Doak.
George's loving family includes his wife of 67 years, Doris; sons Chuck (Joette) Beck and Jeff (Shannon) Beck; daughter Terry Beck; 3 granddaughters and 3 great-grandsons; brother Al (Mary) Beck; sisters Doris Ollenburger, KS, Lorene (Bob) Hammerschmidt, KS, and Grace (Joey) Vogt, OK and many nieces and nephews.
Our family wants to thank the caregivers at Edgewood Assisted Living where he lived for 3 years and the Garrison Memorial Hospital nursing home wing. Their invaluable work should be considered a high calling. Their loving care of Dad will leave a lasting impression on our hearts.
Celebration of George Beck's Life: 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 3, 2026 at Our Redeemer's Church, Minot.
Interment: Sawyer Mennonite Brethren Cemetery, rural Sawyer, ND.
Visitation: Friday, October 2, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation in George's name.
Memories and condolences can be shared at www.thomasfamily funeralhome.com.
Published by The Minot Daily News, September 28, 2026.