Carolyn Louise Beck

Carolyn L. Beck, 89, of Central City, formerly of St. Paul, passed away peacefully, Sunday, March 23, 2025, surrounded by family.

Funeral Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul. The Revs. John Doolittle and Richard Kothe will officiate. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul.

Visitation will be Friday, March 28, 2025, at the church from 5 to 7 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation, the American Cancer Society or to Christ Lutheran Church.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family.

Carolyn was born on Dec. 18, 1935, at Hendley, the daughter of Edwin and Glenva (Martin) Wolzen. It was in Beaver City that she grew up and received her education, graduating from Beaver City High School in 1953.

She was united in marriage to Dean A. Beck on Dec. 19, 1954, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Hendley, NE. The couple first lived in Orleans and later moved to Holdrege and Cozad. In 1965, the couple moved to St. Paul, where they raised their seven children.

Carolyn worked for many years at McCain’s in Grand Island until her retirement. Her retirement didn’t last long as she couldn’t sit still, so she went back to work at the Mainstreet Playhouse in St. Paul where the children referred to her as “Grandma Carolyn”.

Dean died on Sept. 10, 2008. Carolyn continued to work at the daycare. In 2020, she moved to Central City, where she lived the majority of her remaining years, with her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Rick.

She was a longtime member of Christ Lutheran Church and it's Ladies Aide. Carolyn enjoyed camping with family and friends. She was a great woman of faith that dearly loved all her family and her church meant the world to her. She was truly one of the most loving and forgiving women you could ever find.

She is survived by her children and spouses, Karen and Randy Syas of Omaha, Deb and Willard Pedersen of St. Paul, Jim and Angie Beck of Alliance, Susan Beck and Rick Hieb of Central City, Lori and Dan Graves of Omaha, Craig Beck and Deb Gentry of St. Paul, MN and Kurt and Elizabeth Beck of Omaha; 20 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and 6 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Joyce Beck of Rapid City, SD; brother, Kent Wolzen of Papillion; and sisters-in-law, Kathy Wolzen of Wells, NV and Nancy Wolzen of Beatrice; and her dear friends and former neighbors, Doug and Julie Swanson of St. Paul.

In addition to her husband, Dean, she was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, Ralph Hinkle; great-granddaughter, Celena Jones; four brothers, Jerry, Neil, Dick and Dennis Wolzen; and sister-in-law, Dr. Kris Wolzen.