Mary Louise (Arnold) Beckmann

Mary Louise Beckmann, 100, of Mechanicsville, IA passed away on Monday, January 24, 2022 while under hospice care at Prairie Hills, Tipton, IA. On Friday, January 28, 2022, Fry Funeral Home will host a Celebration of Life service, officiated by Rev. Kerri Sandusky, at 10:30 am. Burial will follow at the Red Oak Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com. Mary was born on Sunday, April 10, 1921, in Cedar Rapids, IA to Page and Florence (Thompson) Arnold. Her mother remarried Ray Challis in 1927, where they lived on the farm north of Tipton. Mary spent many of her younger days riding her black Shetland pony. She graduated from Tipton High School in 1939, where later her three sons and two granddaughters would also graduate. Mary graduated from Coe College in Cedar Rapids. In 1942, she married the love of her life, Vernon Beckmann at the Challis farm. Being a teacher for much of her adult life, she also made time to work the farm with her husband Vernon. She and her beloved husband loved to travel, covering all states, but somehow missed South Carolina. They also loved to dance, going to many dance halls including highway Gardens in Stanwood, IA. Playing cards with close friends was also a weekend favorite. They spent 20+ years wintering in Texas, but always came back to the farm to spend their remaining years together. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Zanita Becker; daughter-in-law, Ronna Beckmann; step-brother, Donald Challis; and step-sister, Maxine Whitlach. Survivors are; sons, Raymond of Texas, Tom (Ruth) of Tipton, and John (Roxanne) of Mechanicsville; granddaughters, Jody (Scott) Hadrava and Aimee (Chad) Tyo; grandsons, Brooke, Dustin, Jeremy Beckmann and James (Cherise) Anderson; 11 great-grandchildren; and special nieces, Linda Pledger and Florence Dauber.