Gordon Beckman

Gordon Charles Beckman, age 78 of Red Wing and formerly of Cannon Falls, died on Saturday morning, June 14, 2008 at the Fairview Red Wing Medical Center.

Gordon was born on August 2, 1929 in Leon Township, the son of Edmond A. and Emma M. (Peterson) Beckman.  At the age of twelve, the family moved to a farm in Cannon Falls Township, where he continued to live the next 52 years.

He attended country school through the eighth grade, and later the Cannon Falls High School, graduating in 1947.  He enjoyed playing fast pitch softball, and played for six years in the town league.  He enjoyed watching football, baseball and basketball, and was a fan of the MN Twins, Vikings and Timberwolves!

Gordon farmed in Cannon Falls Township, and also had a shop.  He was proud that he could build many things with both metal and wood, and did most of the repair work on the farm machinery. He retired from farming and moved in to Cannon Falls in 1994.

He had also served on the Cannon Falls Township Planning Commission, at which time they drafted a new zoning ordinance much which is still being used today.

Gordon had been a member of Farm Bureau and the National Farmers Organization, serving as vice president of both.

Gordon always had a passion to go to auctions and for auctioneering.  In 1984, he went to the Mason City School of Auctioneering, and returned an auctioneer, and went on to help with many benefit auctions, some household and farm sales until 1990.  Because of farming full-time, there wasn’t much time to be on the road to list sales.

Gordon was a lifelong member of the St. Ansgar’s Lutheran Church, where he served on the board for 3 years, and ushered for more than 50 years.

He was a member for many years with the Oxford Sportsman’s Club, serving as secretary for 2 years and president for 3 years.  He belonged to the Red Wing Area Seniors, and the Red Wing YMCA.  He enjoyed listening to old-time music, especially waltzes and polkas, old country music, and religious music.  He enjoyed dancing, and met his future wife at the Red Wing Senior Dance, and they have been dancing together ever since.

He married Kay Peterson of Ellsworth, WI and later Red Wing, on August 19, 2007 at the Beckman home in Cannon Falls.

He is survived by his wife, Kay of Red Wing; sister-in-law, Verna Beckman of Anoka; and very good family friends, Nick and Donna Otto of Egan, South Dakota.

He was preceded in death by his parents; twin brothers, Alton and Vernon Beckman; sister, Edythe Beckman; and special longtime friend, Bonnie Dunker.



Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, June 18 at 2:00 p.m., with visitation from 1-2 p.m., at St. Ansgar’s Lutheran Church in Cannon Falls, with Pastor Gary Schulz and Pastor Dorothy Sandahl officiating.  Interment will follow at the Cannon Falls Cemetery.



In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to donor’s choice.

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