Benjamin Timothy Beck

Benjamin Timothy Beck, 90, of East Wenatchee, WA, passed away peacefully on New Year's Day, January 1, 2011, surrounded in the steadfast love of family and friends. Time to say goodbye - see you later - to the Man, Father, Grandpa, Sheet Metal Cutter, Orchardist, Musician and Carver. Benjamin was born on October 7, 1920, in Colbert, WA, to Augusta and Frederick Beck. Ben, the fifth child of seven, was raised in Spokane, on a farm and also in the city. He always preferred country living and country music and loved to play guitar and fiddle. Life would not be complete without growing fruit and vegetables, instead of sweeping sidewalks and he considered a distant wave and smile to a neighbor better than sharing a driveway and backyard. Ben served in World War II in the Navy in the South Pacific, boasting the shoulder tattoo "I Love Lucy", his wife of 60 years. They met in Seattle when he worked in Todd Shipyards and she worked at Boeing. Upon returning home from the War, they moved to Spokane and raised three baby boomers, Janet Roberson and Shirley Beck, both of Wenatchee and Ruth Ruppert of Kirkland. Also surviving him are two grandchildren, Gabriel Ruppert of Chelan and Yvonne Ruppert of Seattle; and three great-grandchildren, Aidan, age 6, Cooper, age 3 and Addison, age 1. Ben and Lucille moved to the Wenatchee Valley in 1959, and built their fourth of five houses on a hill in an apple and pear orchard. Working in the orchard and selling fruit at the farmer's market was a real kick. Everywhere Ben went, music was essential... playing with the Old Time Fiddlers and making violins and a bass fiddle was his retirement adventure. He also used his 50 years of Sheet Metal Craftsmanship to build buildings, toys, garages, stair rails and his own motor home and a dune buggy - for his daughters - or maybe for himself. He was always making something with his hands and tools; sometimes he even made his tools. He was a left handed fiddler and tin snip cutter, which was unusual. When asked, "how do you make a fiddle the same on each side," his humble answer was clear, "you just do." One of his favorite sayings was to wave his flat hand out in front of him and just say, "enough said." A man of few words. He preferred music to express his joy to living and loving. Ben put family first. They sold fresh ripe peaches at the Farmer's Market. From standing in ration lines as a child, to growing and exporting tons of fruit, they loved to grow and preserve and eat good food. They were never without a jug of water and dried fruit and homemade wheat bread on hand at all times. Carrying food was more important than carrying a wallet. Ben and Lucille were living examples of recycling, composting and sustainable living, before it was so popular. Ben and Lucille enjoyed great daily exercise, working in the orchard well into their mid-80's and, at 90, Ben rototilled his own garden. Every winter they would each gain five pounds sitting around the fire, sewing and carving, and then instantly drop "the big weight" by March 15, when the irrigation water was turned on. Balance and moderation describe them perfectly. Lucille found humor essential to life and Ben assured us that kindness was like food - you need some everyday. Lucille passed at age 85 in 2004. It is only natural to say Ben and Lucille were as one, because they truly were. Wrapped in everlasting love and admiration, Ben now joins Lucille. They will be missed and never forgotten by their children and the community. Funeral Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 8, 2011, at Telford's Chapel of the Valley in East Wenatchee. Arrangements by Telford's Chapel of the Valley.

Benjamin Timothy Beck

October 7, 1920 - January 1, 2011