It is with great sadness that the family of Sharon Beckius, 79, of North Platte, share her passing at Great Plains Health surrounded by her family on April 11, 2026. She was born February 2, 1947 at McCook, Nebraska to Twila (Gillespie) Meadows and Raymond E. Hrabe.
All of Sharon’s schooling was completed in North Platte. She graduated with the class of 1965. Unable to afford college following graduation, Sharon went to work for Bonny Jurado at Hoover’s Jewelry. She worked at Hoover's until she married.
On December 23, 1968 Sharon was united in marriage to the love of her life and best friend, Jerome (Jerry) J. Beckius at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in North Platte with Fr. Ed Cortney serving as the celebrant. The couple had recently celebrated 59 years of marriage at the time of her death.
The couple spent the first ten years of their marriage in California, while Jerry served in the United States Navy. After Jerry’s honorable discharge from the military, the couple returned to North Platte so they could care for Jerry’s mother who suffered from advancing Parkinsons. The couple was blessed with three children, Christopher Paul and twins, Heather Mae and Courtney (Court) Jerome. Tragedy struck the young family on April 18, 1980, when Heather died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, while Sister Leonette was making a home visit with Sharon and the twins. Heather’s death threw Sharon into a life-long endeavor of providing support and assistance to other bereaved parents through the Nebraska Chapter of the SIDS Foundation, of which both she and Jerry were charter members.
Sharon attended Mid Plains Community College as a non-traditional student. The next educational step was to drive to Kearney five days a week to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She graduated from Kearney with a degree in Social Work.
Survivors include her life partner of 59+ years, Jerry Beckius and their son, Court, of North Platte, Christopher’s two children Nathaniel and Annabelle also of North Platte and her beloved sister, Patsy (Robert) Wessell of Selden, Kansas and their three children, who all reside in Salina, Kansas. Preceding her in death, in addition to Heather, are son Christopher in 2023 and grandson Tyler Jacob Beckius in January of 2026 , her mother- and father-in-law, J. Paul and Cecelia Beckius, parents, grandparents, all aunts and uncles, brother-in-law, Tom Beckius and a special nephew, Bobby Wessell. Sharon loved poodles of all sizes and leaves behind her beloved companion, Sadie.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church had a special place in her heart. She and her husband were among the original families who gathered to charter the new parish. Her special joy was participating in the music ministry and coordinating the prayer blanket ministry. She also delighted in appearing as the “pumpkin” at the church’s annual pumpkin festival for several years. Sharon served, and was the only woman, on the first parish council for the newly formed church. She held many officer’s positions in the Daughters of Charity altar society, 2nd Vice President of the Indianola Deanery and as Secretary and then Regent of Catholic Daughters of America many years ago.
When Sharon was just a little girl her grandmother, Anna Hrabe, enrolled her in the Bohemian Lodge of Jennings, KS. She was very proud of her Bohemian heritage. Sharon and the late Ann Jared spend many, many years as members of the scouting council in leadership positions.
Rosary will be prayed at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church on Wednesday April 15, 2026 at 7:00 pm.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday April 16, 2026 at 11:00 am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. A luncheon will be served at the parish hall following burial at the North Platte Cemetery.
Online condolences and live stream will be at www.carpentermemorial.com. Visitation will be Wednesday from 12-5 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel.
Memorials may be made to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, North Platte, NE.