Charles Beckwith

Charles (Bud) Mathew Beckwith, 85, formerly of Babbitt, MN and Mesa, AZ passed away peacefully in the Silver Bay Veterans Home on April 28, 2017, due to complications from cancer.

Bud was born on January 9, 1932, to Deloris and Gerald (Gade) Beckwith in Duluth, Minnesota.  By lying about his age, Bud joined the US Navy Reserves in 1948. He joined the Army one day after being honorably discharged from the Reserves. He was assigned to Camp Carson, CO, where he became a Physical Training Instructor, muleskinner, and was cast in the Hollywood movie, “One Minute to Zero” starring Ann Blyth and Robert Mitchum. President Truman extended his enlistment. So his fiancé Marilyn Janice Peterson from Palmers, Minnesota traveled to Colorado where they were married in the Army chapel on March 18,1952.  He was Honorably discharged on June 16, 1952, and they moved back to Duluth where he did odd jobs until 1955 when he was hired by Reserve Mining in Babbitt.  He worked in the warehouse, driving truck, later repairing electric shovels until retiring.

They lived on Fern Court between 1955 and 1960 where they had five children and then moved out to Birch Lake, where they taught their kids how to hunt, fish and swim. Bud & Marilyn enjoyed traveling across the country with their children during numerous vacations.  In 1987, they left in their RV to explore North America, and it would appear they hit all the back roads. Bud became a certified RV Repairman in Tacoma, Washington, and in 1995, they settled in Mesa, AZ.  In 2014, Bud moved back to Babbitt and most recently lived at the Veterans Home in Silver Bay

Bud was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn Janice Peterson Beckwith on September 18, 2007.  His parents, Deloris Beckwith 1995 and Gerald Beckwith in 1983; and grandson Shawn Forest Akkanen in 1980.

Bud is survived by his sister Marjorie Weatherby, Duluth, MN and brother Richard (Dick) Beckwith, Snohomish, WA; Doug (Ruth) Beckwith of Saginaw, MN, Dan (Trudy) Beckwith of Duluth, Diane (Jerry) Latimer of Britt, MN, Dean Beckwith of Embarrass, MN and Denise (Leo) Pusateri of St. Cloud, MN.  Grand and Great-grandchildren Astrid (Jeff) Merrifield (Levi and Wyatt).  Erik Beckwith (Katherine), Cyrus Beckwith and Luke (Katlin) Beckwith (DeClan); Brant Beckwith (Beau), Carissa Beckwith, Tanner Beckwith; Questa (Jon) Knapper (Daniel and Johanna), Nathaniel Mitchell (Cristian and Ben); Dustin (Stephanie) Vickmark (Maggie and Matthew), Darrin Vickmark, Douglas (Brooke) Vickmark (Layla and Odin), Jackson (Tonya) Barnes (Mia) and step-grandson Leo Pusateri III.

The family would like to thank the volunteers and staff at Carefree Living in Babbitt, Aurora and at the Minnesota Veteran's Home in Silver Bay.  The family, is so grateful for the love, care, honor and respect our father received during his time at these homes.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the local Alzheimer's Association of Minnesota/North Dakota (http://www.alz.org/mnnd/).

Visitation starts at 10am with an 11am service: on the 11th of May at French River Lutheran Church which is located at 5310 Ryan Road, Duluth, MN 55804.  Burial is at Lakeview/Palmers Cemetery 1495 Velkommen Drive, Duluth,