Services
Obituary
Nancy Beenken, 92, of Belmond passed away Wednesday, December 25, 2024 at the Iowa Specialty Hospital in Belmond.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 3, 2025 at 10:30 AM at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 1207 3rd Street Northeast in Belmond. Burial will be in St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Belmond.
Click the following link to watch the funeral live stream. https://meet.goto.com/926284933
Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 111 Luick’s Lane South in Belmond with a Rosary service beginning at 4:00 PM and a Scriptural Wake following at 4:30 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday.
Nancy “Anna Marie” born August 22, 1932 at her maternal grandparents house east of Belmond. She was born the oldest of 10 children and named for her maternal great-grandmother, Nancy “Anna Marie” Waters who died in 1932. Parents were Thomas John Quigley & Josephine Studebaker Quigley. As the first grandchild she was special to Gammy and Gampy.
She was baptized at St. Francis in Belmond and her Godparents were Gertrude Quigley Johnson and Charles Studebaker and 21 years later, they were also Russ' Godparents.
She started school in 1st grade east of Goodell and remembers Gertrude Schmidt being her teacher. Then they moved to Belmond for part of first grade & second grade. Later the family moved to the Studebaker farm and she went to school two miles east and Mrs. Phyllis Halfpap Boelman was her teacher. She then attended the newly opened Murphy School for five years with Marion Studebaker Lee and Edna Kroeger being her teachers. And celebrated graduating from 8th grade in the Belmond park.
In high school she played the baritone in both the Pep and marching bands at basketball and football games. One of her fondest memories was marching in the North Iowa Marching Band Festival while Meredith Willson was also in the parade. She graduated in 1950 in a class of 50 students.
After graduation, she worked at Alderson's, Tip Top Grocery, General Mills, and Texaco.
Russ and Nancy were married February 11, 1953 at St. Francis. They bought their new home and held their reception there.
After having her children she returned to working outside the home. She worked at the Belmond Department Store for 11 years and the P & G Deli for 14 years before retiring in 1994.
Anyone who knew Nancy knew she was handy with a needle and thread. After retirement, this became her full time passion. She sewed anything from the Ken doll boy scout clothes to a size 25 wedding dress and also her daughters' and a daughter in law's wedding and attendants dresses. She also crocheted afghans and created quilts from doll size to king size. From 1994-2021 she sewed birthday gifts for the Belmond nursing home residents. Additionally, she would do alterations and sewed for Marcia Burt's Charity Sewing Club, also clothing for Haiti. She always needed something to work on each morning with her first cup of coffee.
Nancy enjoyed traveling and took the opportunity to visit Hawaii, Ireland and Italy. She also made several trips to Pennsylvania, New York, South Carolina, Sheridan, Wyoming, and Branson, Missouri.
She was also able to attend many concerts and enjoyed seeing Eddie Arnold, Kenny Rogers, Barbara Mandrell, Tim McGraw, Vince Gill, Statler Brothers, Andy Williams, Clint Black, Charlie Pride, Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings.
After retiring in 1994, Nancy joined the Y and walked daily for 26 years. She is grateful for the many friendships and memories that she made during this time.
Nancy is survived by her 7 children Russell Howard Beenken (Monica Maerz), Margaret (Ed) Field, Kenneth (Debra) Beenken, Annette Nelson (Tom Christians), Rosemary Beenken, Tom (Deborah) Beenken, and Jerry (Donetta) Beenken.
Grandchildren Jessie, Eryn, Dusty (April), Jeff (Lindy), Lucas, Elyse (Travis), Chris (Jess), Liz (Brian), Wes, Ben (Chelsea), Eric, and Cole.
Great Grandchildren TJ, Sebastian, Leocadia, Mady, Travis, Cooper, Russell, Porter, Makenzie, Lauren, Sarah, Jace, Maci, Addy, Milo.
Her siblings Jerry (Anne), Eugene (Diane), Tom (Roselie), Theresa, Rose Ellen (John), Frank (Karen), Sue (Charlie), Carol.
Also brother-in-law Alan Beenken and sisters-in-law Velmie Sobottka and Judy Quigley.
Half brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Betty Beenken, Cathy (Greg) Hand, Denise Beenken, Donna (Randall) Dittmer and half step brother-in-law Rick (Deb) Beenken.
She is also survived by the parents of her grandchildren Cynthia Beenken, Adrena Burwell, Brianna Shields. Bill Nelson, Mike Tull, and Keith Amendt.
And several nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her husband Russell Beenken, her parents Thomas and Josephine Quigley, and brother Patrick Quigley. Sisters-in-law Vicki Quigley, Mickey Quigley, Dixie Beenken, Laura Beenken, Marie Beenken, Marvella Overbeck, Delphine Watermiller, and Barb Ohrt. Brothers-in-law Donald Beenken, Roger Beenken, Duane Trager, and Bradford Fletcher, nephews Waylon Bonte, Ed Trager and Bobby Quigley in infancy along with many loved ones.