Shirley Lou Beckstrom of Spokane passed away peacefully on October 18, 2021 after suffering an acute brain bleed.Shirley was born on March 15, 1931 to Martin and Julia Pearson and graduated from North Central High School in 1949. She met Willis Charles Beckstrom at Pattison’s Skating Arena in 1947 and married three years later. Shirley enjoyed a rewarding career as a switchboard operator at Deaconess Medical Center and retired in 1990. After celebrating 71 years of marriage, “Bill” will try to negotiate life without her.
Shirley volunteered with the Cub Scouts when her children were young, and was a member of the Eagles Club where her boys excelled at boxing. She enjoyed dancing, and took her kids to see Santa Clause every year. Her hobbies included bowling, golfing, roller skating in youth, and following all her kids and grandkids activities including sports, acting, singing, track, and competitions into adult life.
Family was her focus and as a couple, Bill and Shirley were inseparable! They were often seen eating at restaurants, bowling several days a week, or golfing. She loved crocheting, sewing, making blankets, and spent a considerable amount of time watching the Mariner's lose game after game. She was a fabulous cook and enjoyed canning and finding new fat-free recipes for Bill’s heart healthy diet. In the last few years, she enjoyed visitors when getting around became more difficult after suffering a stroke. Perhaps two open-heart surgeries, surviving breast cancer, her stroke, and decreasing mobility influenced her desire to live life for the good moments. She enjoyed family and neighbors and made the bed every morning her entire life.
Bill and Shirley were truly a team for the ages. Together they built a cabin on Bead Lake, which is still enjoyed by many. She taught her children to ski and swim, and to never be near the water without a lifejacket, as all neighbors and lake inhabitants could verify! Shirley was able to participate in the annual fall cabin closing only a week before her death. She was a dedicated and loving wife, mother and grandmother and is survived by her husband, six children - Gary, Steve, Neil, Russ, Julie and Lori - 11 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life and Open-House will be held November 6, 2021, between 2-6 pm at the Willis Charles Beckstrom residence, 2304 S. Bannen Road, Spokane Valley. Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of her life, remembering the good times, as that is what she would have wanted.
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