1933-2025
Dolores Marie Beck, oldest of the children of Earl Howard and Harriet Louella (Cameron) Beck, was born Aug. 7, 1933, in Guthrie Center. She passed away Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center.
Dolores attended the Guthrie Center schools, graduating in 1951. She went on to attend the Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls for two years, earning a degree in elementary education. She began her teaching career in Scranton and taught fifth grade there for six years.
Following her resignation from Scranton schools, she began her teaching years at Guthrie Center Elementary School. While teaching at Guthrie Center, she continued her education at Drake University, earning her bachelor’s degree. She taught fifth grade in Guthrie Center for 42 years. She had a great memory for recalling the names of her former students.
During her teaching years and after retirement, Dolores was the Guthrie Center High School girls’ basketball chaperone and scorekeeper for both girls’ and boys’ teams for 56 years. It was a position she greatly enjoyed. She looked forward to the starters of the girls’ team and the coach riding with her to games in her customized van, and the girls and coaches appreciated the van’s comfort over the school bus.
In addition to keeping busy with basketball games, Dolores joined a women’s bowling league in 1959. She was a very competitive bowler and often had her name posted as a high scorer in the women’s league.
After retirement from teaching, Dolores was involved in a retired teachers’ organization, the Guthrie Center Women’s Club, where she served as the president for multiple years, and the Guthrie County Hospital Auxiliary. She was one of the first voluntary van drivers for the hospital, always willing to assist.
Dolores was preceded in death by her longtime friend, Dean Thaler. They made many trips to Colorado to go skiing over Dolores’ winter break from school. She and Dean also had a common interest in Shorthorn cattle. One year, Dolores showed one of their animals at the Iowa State Fair.
Dolores was so fortunate to be able to travel during the summers. She was able to boast that she had been to all 50 states and Canada, with most of the travel done by car or van, and she was behind the wheel — she never tired of driving.
Over the years, Dolores had several interests. She accumulated an extensive collection of more than 150 paper weights, which were all special to her. Her interest in Western artwork and Native American culture could be seen displayed throughout her home. She also had a collection of John Wayne memorabilia and paintings. And her interest in the Iowa Hawkeyes’ sports teams was significant — she tried never to miss a game.
Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Harriet; her sisters, Darlene Lacey and her husband, George, and Jody Hanna; her brother, Jim Beck; and her niece, Joselyn Lacey.
Left to survive her are nieces and nephews, Jason (Robin) Lacey, John (Beth) Hanna, Jr., Lori (John) Lowe, Chad (Jennifer) Hanna, Christina (Art) Dinkin, Quincy (Jennifer) Beck and Nathan (Stephanie) Beck. Brother-in-law, John Hanna, Sr., and sister-in-law, Nancy Beck, also survive.
Dolores’ surviving great nieces and nephews include Griffin and Kaelyn Hanna, Olivia and Luke Hanna, Jordan Johnson, Jacob (Tristan) Lacey, Jackson and Jamison Lacey, Dane Turner-Hein, Josh Lacey, Hayden, Cassidy and Kenzie Dinkin, Maxwell Beck, and Tyson and Trey Beck.
Per “Doree’s” request to her family, “Loads of love to you all!”
Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the Twigg Funeral Home, Guthrie Center, with visitation one hour prior to the services. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Guthrie Center.
In lieu of flowers, memorials will be designated to the Guthrie Center Elementary School at a later date.