Lloyd V. Beckwith

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Lloyd V. Beckwith, 90, of Lincoln died quietly in his sleep during the overnight hours of May 10-11, 2010.

Born to Vern and Iva Beckwith on a farm north of Culbertson, he was known to friends and family as Bill.

As a child, Bill enjoyed the company of his younger brothers Leon "Jack" and Keith "K.C." as well as that of many cousins in the Hayes Center area. Several of these cousins convinced Bill and his brothers that a blow out was an active volcano.

Bill graduated with his brother Leon from Culbertson High School and later attended Hastings College for two years prior to enlisting in the United States Air Force. Bill became a staff sergeant and was honorably discharged at the end of the war.

Following the war, Bill moved to Lincoln where he met and married Lotus Todd in 1950. He worked as a florist for several years and was passionate about plants and flowers all of his life. However, he developed an allergy to chrysanthemums and gave up floristry in the mid-'50s. He became interested in furniture sales; becoming a longtime employee and the eventual owner of Havelock Furniture Store.

Bill and Lotus always dreamed of having a family. They adopted daughters Lori and, later, Becky before being blessed with the birth of a third daughter, Toni. They owned two homes together and eventually settled in their "dream home," spending over thirty years together in this home outside of Lincoln.

Bill and Lotus always loved to travel and often returned to Colorado Springs were they had honeymooned together all those years ago. In fact, they had recently returned from one last trip together having spent 10 days visiting their daughter Becky and her husband. They were already planning their next trip together.

In recent years, Bill and wife had moved into assisted living. When Bill's care needs changed, the couple relocated to Wilber Care in Wilber, Nebraska. Bill lived in the nursing care unit and Lotus was able to stay in an adjoining assisted living apartment. They spent time together every day, right up until the evening before his death.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Lotus (Todd) Beckwith, Lincoln; three daughters, Toni and husband, Dennis Christensen of Lincoln, Becky and husband, Steve Noecker of Story, Wyoming, Lori and husband, Edward Jackson of Broken Bow, Nebraska; Brother, Leon "Jack" Beckwith of Lincoln; five grandsons, Jermaine Brown of Denver, Colorado, Casey Christensen of Lincoln, Aaron Neyhart of Winner, South Dakota, Tanner Jackson of Broken Bow, and Isaac Jackson of Broken Bow.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Keith Carl "K.C." Beckwith; and parents Vern and Iva (Olson) Beckwith.

Memorial services were conducted Friday (May 14, 2010). Memorials may be made to National Federation for the Blind. Condolences may be made to Lotus Beckwith, Wilber Care Center, 611 North Main Street, Wilber, Nebraska.