Glenn Beckman

Glenn was born on October 14, 1929, to Harold E. and Celia C. (Peterson) Beckman, at their family home on Pine St. in Marquette, Michigan. He attended Marquette Public Schools.

Glenn married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Lahti on August 26, 1950. They were married 65 years and raised five children together, before Dorothy passed away in 2016.

During his younger years, Glenn worked as a plumber, at LS&I Railroad, like most of his family, and later settled in as a field engineer at the Board of Light & Power. He worked at BL&P for 30 years, and often said he had to retire because his work was interfering with his hobby of racing, raising, and training his beloved horses. He often told others that he was retired longer than he had worked.

Glenn and Dorothy devoted much of their time to the churches they attended. In Marquette, they attended St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, where they served on the board, sang in the choir, and started the Thanksgiving dinners for people who didn’t have anywhere to go. In Lake Worth Beach, FL, they attended St. Andrews Lutheran Church and did the same thing, served on the board, sang in the choir and Glenn sang in a trio for many years, for which he looked forward to every week. They also took the Thanksgiving dinner idea with them as well. They did not have a Thanksgiving dinner at home for more than 30 years. It was always at the church or at the Finnish Community Center. Glenn was given an award as volunteer of the decades from St. Andrew’s church. He was immensely proud of that, and he often said his week wouldn’t start out properly if it didn’t start out with church on Sunday. He volunteered many hours at the Finnish Community Center calling bingo, cooking, or bartending for functions as well.

Glenn loved his family. No matter what would happen, he was known to say, you just need to work it out, you are family, and that is what families do. He enjoyed gardening and raised over 30 orchids, for which he was very proud.

He is survived by his sons Bill (Debra) Beckman, Rick (Lenora) Beckman, daughter Judy (Tom) Rutledge and daughter-in-law Gretchen Beckman. He also leaves behind 17 grandchildren: Tom (Crystal) Beckman Jr., Jon (Sara) Beckman, Michelle (Brian) Anderson, Jennifer Beck, David (Mary) Beckman, Michael (Crystal) Beckman, Christine (Dave) Betts, Stephanie (Scott) Laprad, Jeffrey (Jessica) Beckman, Eric (Kerri) Beckman, Shawn (Chris) Owsley, Lindsay Rutledge, Ian Rutledge, Keara Milkiewicz, James (Martha) Rutledge, Elizabeth (Greg) Pilling, and Kathleen Allen. He is also survived by thirty-eight great grandchildren, seven great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Glenn was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy, sons Thomas Beckman Sr and David Beckman; granddaughter Debbie Jo Beckman Mitchell, brothers Harold (Liz) Beckman, Eugene (Roxie) Beckman, William (Betty) Beckman and a sister Joan (Kyle) Ericson.

A memorial is being planned for a later date.

Condolences may be sent to 7356 54th Ave N. St. Petersburg, FL 33709.