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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Ernest "Del" Beckstrand of Paxton, who 
4passed away on October 13, 2015; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Del Beckstrand was born in Paxton on October 10, 
61923 to Ernest R. and Mabel Larson Beckstrand; he graduated 
7from Paxton High School in 1942 and was a Staff Sergeant in the 
8United States Army during World War II, stationed in California 
9with the 11th Armored Division; he attended the University of 
10Nevada in Reno under the Army ASTP program, where he became a 
11combat engineer and was sent to Louisiana to the 1253rd Combat 
12Engineers; he was sent overseas and saw action in France and on 
13the Rhine River in Germany under General Patton; he was awarded 
143 Battle Stars; he married Virginia (Motley) Swanson on June 
1515, 1961 in Kewanee; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Del Beckstrand worked as a painter for Frank 
17Salvage, Virgil Anderson, and Al Kingren Construction; later, 
18he went to work at Chanute Air Force Base in the carpenter 
19shop, retiring in 1985; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Del Beckstrand was a past commander of American 
21Legion Post 150 in Paxton and was a member of the Veterans of 
22Foreign War Post No. 4214 and the Moose Lodge of Rantoul; he 
 
 
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1was a member of First Lutheran Church of Paxton, where he 
2served on the church board for a number of years and was a 
3Trustee on the cemetery board; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Del Beckstrand was preceded in death by his wife, 
5Virginia; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Del Beckstrand is survived by his daughter, Nancy 
7(Hansel) Gillis; his  stepdaughter, Christine Lindstrom; his 
8grandson; his  granddaughter; and his step-granddaughter; 
9therefore, be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
12Ernest "Del" Beckstrand, and extend our sincere condolences to 
13his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
14further
  
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
16presented to  the family of  Del Beckstrand as an expression of 
17our deepest sympathy.