Natalie Montes Beckstrom
Natalie Montes Beckstrom, 80, died Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at the Kansas Soldiers Home, Halsey Hall.
She was born December 1, 1936 at Jimenez, Chihuahua, Mexico, the daughter of Agapito Montes and Elojhiuah Arras. She moved to the United States in 1944 and attended college at St. Mary of the Plains in Dodge City and the University of Texas El Paso where she received her nursing degree. In 1968 she enlisted in the United States Army as a nurse, serving during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged in 1978. She competed and represented the Army in the Miss Armed Forces Pageant in 1970.
She worked for 11 years for Borden Ice Cream and later as a nurse at the Kansas Soldiers Home, Ft. Dodge, Garden Valley Retirement Center, Terrace Gardens and Russell Child Development all in Garden City and The Shepherd’s, Cimarron. She enjoyed gardening, animals and family and friends.
She was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Garden City.
Survivors include: 2 sons, Larry Beckstrom and fiancé, Angela Robinson, Sanford, Florida and Anthony Beckstrom, Pittsburg, Kansas; a brother, Matias Montes, El Paso, Texas; 3 sisters, Francisca Montes, El Paso and Martha Montes and Cha Cha Montes both of Juarez, Mexico; 5 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, John Beckstrom, a grandson, Tristan Lawrence Beckstrom, a brother, Jesus “Jessie” Montes and a sister, Lupe Montes.
Memorial Mass will be 1:00 pm Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at St. Dominic Church, Garden City, with Fr. Mike Helms presiding. Graveside services will be 2:00 pm Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Ft. Dodge with full military honors by Howard Gotschall VFW Post 1714 and Military Honors for the State of Kansas. There will be no public viewing, cremation has taken place.
The family suggests memorials to the Natalie Beckstrom Memorial Fund to be designated at a later date in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.
