Catherine Margaret Beckett peacefully passed away on October 21, 2015 after battling for years with a heart made more for loving deeply more than living long. She was born December 16, 1954 in Miles City, MT to Howard (Bud) & Annabelle Mickel Beckett. As a Navy family they lived in many places, finally landing in Helena, MT in 1958.
We will most miss her humor & kindness. She was known in both professional & personal life to go the distance for others. Many colleagues speak of her skill & patience; she wanted for others to succeed & never let anyone feel stupid or small. Everyone in her presence felt they mattered including the students in the Sunday school she taught & friends that she cared for while working at the State of Montana DPHHS & St. Peters Hospital. Those friends credit her with being both a blessing & a great role model. Many are already missing her kind & beautiful spirit.
She was often the only calm seat in the storm around the Frisch dinner table; offering both levity & selfless perspective. She denied nothing to those she loved, & would worry about their pain instead of her own. Cathy had an amazing endurance for both physical & emotional pain. She once had four teeth removed & went back to work on the same day. This brave woman could laugh & pray her way through the trials of life, of which she was given many, including diabetes & cardiovascular disease.
Cathy possessed many special skills, including discovering treasures for her friends at garage sales, devouring books & advocating for everything furry animal, especially dogs.
There will always be a seat around the Shanghai table saved for her. Even if she didn’t always win at cards, she would keep the family laughing. She expected so little out of this world to which she gave so much. She recently received a leather sofa & a pitbull (we named Cooper), & said that now she had all she ever wanted & she was happy.
Cathy is survived by her sisters Lola Beckett & Elizabeth Hertel; her Uncle Bob Beckett; Aunt Margaret Green (Cathy’s name sake), nieces Tina Hogan, Arle Schroeder, Dawn Meyerhoff, Ruth Medieros, Holly Hertel. Nephews Mickel Beckett, Jeffrey Cannon, Jacob Hertel, Reynolds Hertel; her son Cody Beckett Frisch; her second family Bobbie Conrady, Janice Frisch, Hollyann Frisch, Pat McCoy, Mark Easbey, Tonya Easbey; & her childhood friend Paulette DeHart.
She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings Euda Kosher, Charlotte Beckett, Donald Beckett.
Cathy’s last words were not complaints of pain or fear of death, but “I will miss you.” We all look forward to seeing her again, first at the Rainbow Bridge, where she is certainly waiting for us & handing out biscuits to the many animals that loved her, & then on to the golden streets of heaven & into the arms of the Jesus she loved.
Celebration of Cathy’s life is pending.
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Chris Petrosky says
Rest in peace Cathy. In was an honor to know you. God Bless you.
Gail Beckett Smith says
My dear cousin Cathy, I will miss you so much! One week we were joking about the pig’s valve to be used in your surgery then the next week you were gone. It was a shock but we prayed, God’s will be done – and now you are with our blessed Lord and many of our loved ones who went before you. No more pain. I pray that I will be a sweet spirit like you. Godspeed. Gail & Frank
Jill Beckett says
Far too young to be gone so soon. I am happy that we had you in our family and got to spend a few days here and there at our reunions. Bless you and your family. Love, Jill
Anna Sampson says
To be absent from the body is to be in the presence of the Lord. You believed that and I believe that. I believe that you are now dancing in the arms of Jesus. But, that doesn’t mean that I won’t miss you terribly. You were my friend and confidant. And I loved you even when you were a “crabby apple” as you would sometimes say. Goodbye, my friend. I will see you later.
Margaret Jane Wright Alcaraz says
It was summer in Chattanooga, TN. The Becketts had gathered from near and far because Uncle Bud had come with his family from Montana. It was more for me because there was a new baby who shared my name, Margaret. We were both named for the same person, our aunt, but that summer this baby was all mine She was Catherine Margaret, and she was beautiful, and she was sweet, and she let me love her. As I held her, I knew she was special, and her life proved this to be true. I only spent those few weeks with her, but throughout my life I always felt close to her…as if she was there with me. Our world was a better place when she was in it, and now she has brought her wonder to heaven and her joy to Aunts Nell and Martha as she joins the Becketts who watch over us all.
Cindy Lieberg says
This is another reminder to me, you never know when it could be the last time you see someone forever. I can’t believe Cathy is not here! There are so many things that will always remind me of her, for that I am thankful! Those who knew her loved her! I think of her everyday! Peace to those loved ones Cathy leaves behind and God bless! ???
John H. Duckworth says
I remember Cathy from when we were both kids in church. May you fill Heaven with the same laughter we enjoyed back then, Cathy. Rest in his loving arms.
Tonya Easbey says
Cathy always gave more than she took, loved more than she hurt, and made this world a better place just with her calm and generous presence. If there is one person I love that deserves a beautiful afterlife and for karma to acknowledge her grace it is her. Cathy, you are so loved. and you are missed. and you will never be forgotten.