William Pearson "Pete" Beck

William Pearson “Pete” Beck, 87, of Manhattan passed away on Wednesday, January 31st at Wroten House Meadowlark Hills. Pearson was born April 5, 1930 to William Henry and Gracia Beeler Beck in Spearville, Kansas. He spent his first five years on a farm southwest of Spearville. He moved to Kinsley, Kansas where he went to school and graduated from Kinsley High School in 1948. He went to Kansas State University and graduated in 1952 with a BS in Agriculture. He joined the United States Coast Guard on June 7, 1952. He married Marguerite Copp on December 27, 1952. They began their life together in New London, Connecticut and lived on both coasts during his enlistment. They moved back to Kinsley in 1956 and he started his farming operation. He loved the outdoors especially hunting and fishing. He served on the Kinsley School Board and was president in 1965. He was on the Bishop’s Committee at Holy Nativity Episcopal Church for a number of years, active in the church choir and lay reading. He and Marguerite moved to Manhattan, Kansas on July 1, 1990. There they joined St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. He loved attending Kansas State University athletic events. He was active in many community activities. He and Marguerite raised three children; Barbara, Jennifer and Michael. He dearly loved family and was always present in his children and grandchildren’s lives. Pearson leaves behind his children Jennifer (Gary) Jones and Michael (Shannon) Beck; and son-in-law Randy Sawyer and sister-in-law Virginia Gleason. He had 7 grandchildren – Monica (Tripp) Hamby, Travis (Jessica) Sawyer, Johnna (Matt) Fleming, Brett (Lindsay) Jones, Brooklyn, Sydney and Will Beck. He also had 6 great grandchildren – Austyn and Avery Hamby, Jackson and Maxwell Sawyer, and Madelyn and Elizabeth Fleming. Pearson was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years Marguerite and daughter Barbara in 2014. A visitation will be held Thursday, February 8, 2018 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home, 1317 Poyntz, Manhattan, Kansas. Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 9, 2018 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 601 Poyntz, Manhattan, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, 601 Poyntz, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.