Linnie Beck
Marriages
Marthella Willis - 1949
Burial Details
Obituaries
Steamboat Pilot - December 9, 2001
Linnie Beck of Craig passed away Nov. 15, 2001, at Valley View Manor. He was 90.
He was a twin, born along with his brother, Lonnie, Feb. 3, 1911, at the Big Four coal mining camp in Tioga, Huerfano County, in southern Colorado. He was the second of four children born to Lee and Minnie Beck.
His family first came to northwestern Colorado in 1914. His father worked in the coal mines at Oak Creek and they lived in Phippsburg.
The family later returned to southern Colorado and them moved to Tulsa, Okla., before returning to Steamboat Springs in the late 1920s.
#Linnie and his father worked at several coal mines in Routt County.
When the work at the mines slowed down, he worked on road construction, including the road over Rabbit Ears Pass.
He also worked on several ranches along the Elk River, feeding cattle during the winters, sometimes for only room and board.
Linnie began his first steady job as a truck driver for Stanton Transportation in 1940. He would work for them for 22 years.
In 1948, he met Marthella Willis at Macedona Lodge in western Colorado.
Her parents, John and Ella Willis, ran the lodge and Marthella cooked and waited tables for them.
Linnie was impressed with her cooking and asked her to become his wife.
They were later married. In 1949 the Stantons opened a branch in Casper, Wyo., and Linnie transferred there for a few years before returning to Craig in the late 1950s.
The Stantons sold out in 1962. Linnie then continued as a truck driver for Craig Sand & Gravel, Moffat County Road Department, Silengo Coal Co. and Empire Energy Corp. before a back injury forced him to retire in 1976.
Retirement didn't slow Linnie down; he continued to work part-time for Cook Chevrolet for many years. He shuttled cars for them to and from many areas throughout the United States.
Linnie loved the outdoors and life in the Yampa Valley. He enjoyed hunting and camping with family and friends, but his true passion was fishing. His favorite places were Steamboat Lake, Stagecoach Reservoir and Lake Avery near Meeker.
Linnie is survived by his wife, Marthella, of Craig; son John and wife Kaye of Thornton and son Dale and wife Judy of Billings, Mont.; stepsisters Delpha James and Lucille Willison of Fruita; three grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Lonnie, at age 7; his father, Lee, and stepmother, Glo; sisters, Opal and Ruby; stepsisters, Marie Briggs, Julie Tabor and Xepha Wickam and a half-brother, Percy Orr.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 20, 2001, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Craig. Bishop Brian Herring officiated. Pallbearers were John Beck, Dale Beck, Justin Beck, Joe Tonso, Roger Martin and Joe Ence. Interment was in the Hayden Cemetery with dedication of the grave by Bob Trevenen.
Linnie will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather who had a great sense of humor and was always willing to help a friend or neighbor when needed.
