SR1201 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1201 LRB099 15026 MST 39228 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ernest "Del" Beckstrand of Paxton, who passed away on October 13, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Del Beckstrand was born in Paxton on October 10, 1923 to Ernest R. and Mabel Larson Beckstrand; he graduated from Paxton High School in 1942 and was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army during World War II, stationed in California with the 11th Armored Division; he attended the University of Nevada in Reno under the Army ASTP program, where he became a combat engineer and was sent to Louisiana to the 1253rd Combat Engineers; he was sent overseas and saw action in France and on the Rhine River in Germany under General Patton; he was awarded 3 Battle Stars; he married Virginia (Motley) Swanson on June 15, 1961 in Kewanee; and

WHEREAS, Del Beckstrand worked as a painter for Frank Salvage, Virgil Anderson, and Al Kingren Construction; later, he went to work at Chanute Air Force Base in the carpenter shop, retiring in 1985; and

WHEREAS, Del Beckstrand was a past commander of American Legion Post 150 in Paxton and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post No. 4214 and the Moose Lodge of Rantoul; he was a member of First Lutheran Church of Paxton, where he served on the church board for a number of years and was a Trustee on the cemetery board; and

WHEREAS, Del Beckstrand was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Del Beckstrand is survived by his daughter, Nancy (Hansel) Gillis; his stepdaughter, Christine Lindstrom; his grandson; his granddaughter; and his step-granddaughter; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Ernest "Del" Beckstrand, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Del Beckstrand as an expression of our deepest sympathy.