Dorothy Jean Beeken

Dorothy J. Beeken, age 93, of Ogallala, passed away, Thursday, March 11, 2021 at the Indian Hills Manor in Ogallala.

 Dorothy was born Dorothy Jean Kostman on July 19, 1927 to Carl & Isabelle (Reisen) Kostman in Grand Island, Nebraska. 
She rode to school on “Tony the pony” with her brothers Kenneth and Garold and sister Virginia. She attended school in Brush, Colorado; graduating from Brush High School. Dorothy went on to attend Chadron State College where she completed a teacher’s certification. 

Dorothy fell in love and was united in marriage to Leland Beeken on June 20, 1947, honeymooning in Estes Park, Colorado. The newlyweds then moved to the Beeken Ranch in Arthur, Nebraska where Dorothy taught school in a one room school house on the ranch.  Over the years she and Leland’s journey took them on many ventures from being co-owners of a 20,000 acre ranch in Kennebec, South Dakota; to then relocating as owner/managers of a mobile home park in Redwood City, California; to owning Red Craig’s Lodge in Manitou Springs, Colorado; to farming 320 acres in Security, Colorado; and, finally settling in Greeley, Colorado in 1963.  Dorothy worked in retail sales where she once modeled hats for the Denver Drygoods Co in Greeley.  She also found herself successfully selling cars at a time when women where rarely employed in the industry. Dorothy was widowed in 1992, she never remarried.  In 2016 she moved to Ogallala, Nebraska and became a resident of Welcov Assisted Living.

Dorothy was the loving, generous mother of Dianne and Craig.  The fun and energetic grandmother of Jeffrey and Codie. She was wholly committed to her family as her first love, her sweet and gentle spirit guided and nurtured them all.  Dorothy thoroughly enjoyed a good adventure from time to time. She was a co-owner in a trucking company, made a brief foray into Texas, and remodeled numerous homes, with Dianne and her husband Bill pitching in to help, just to name a few.  She was a strong, independent woman of great integrity.  She embraced living with passion in her love of gardening, decorating her homes with her special touch of warmth, cooking and being with her family.  She remains the beautiful heart and soul of her beloved family, she will be greatly missed.

Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Dianne L. Kimble, of Ogallala; her son, Craig (Paula) Beeken, of Greeley, CO; her sister, Virginia Chilson, of Webster, SD; a grandson, Jeffrey Dukes, of Ogallala; a granddaughter, Codie (Marcus) Allen, of Lakeworth, FL; and a great-granddaughter, Sydni Allen. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leland; her parents; and her brothers, Garold and Kenneth Kostman. 

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 19, 2021 at the Draucker Funeral Home Chapel in Ogallala with Rev. John Stubenrouch of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Ogallala officiating. 

Online condolences may be given at www.drauckerfh.com by clicking the  share a memory button. The service will be live streamed. 

A memorial has been established in her memory. 

COVID-19 precautions are still being followed and masks are recommended.  

Draucker Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.