Carl Beck

Carl was born to John and Minnie Beck on the family farmstead north of Portland, No. Dak. He was the seventh of 14 children. Carl grew up speaking Norwegian until he started school in a one room schoolhouse, where he attended for eight years, then went to high school in Hatton, No. Dak., but was drafted into the Army in 1945 before he could graduate. Carl served in Germany as a carpenter helping with the reconstruction. After being discharged in 1947, he worked as a farm laborer for several years before moving to Fargo to work for the Fargo Foundry, later renamed Mid America Steel, where he held various positions over a 41 year period. After retiring, he went back to work in his garage where he had a fully stocked wood shop building cabinets, lawn furniture, and other stuff for friends and family. Carl was also very skilled at reupholstering furniture and fixing anything mechanically. He also loved landscaping and planting flowers in his yard. He was also an accomplished baker. In the fall, he would make 2-3 thousand lefse to sell or give away to friends and family. In his final years he liked to go on road trips and go to the casinos to donate a few dollars. Carl is survived by his wife Darlene, son Jeff, daughter Deb, sister Shirley and brother Gilman and Gilman's wife Betty. Carl was preceded in death by his mother and father and 8 brothers and 3 sisters. Carl's last wishes were to be cremated and his ashes spread in the countryside where he was raised. The family would like to thank all the wonderful people who cared for him at Sanford, Rosewood and Hospice.