Marian Ardelle Eckhardt

Marian Ardelle (Beckman) Eckhardt was born on August 27, 1929, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Carl A. Beckman and Alpha Marie (Sundstrom) Beckman. Their home was in the small town of Wolverton near the Sundstrom family farm. Growing up, Marian, a Covenant pastor’s daughter, also lived in Seattle, Washington, Courtland, Kansas, and finally Scottsbluff, Nebraska, where she met her beloved Walter Eckhardt at church. Their marriage on January 21,1949, was officiated by Marian’s father. They honeymooned at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, transported by Greyhound Bus.

The newlyweds made their home in Minneapolis, where Walter completed a degree at Northwestern Bible College. They welcomed Gail Lynette into their family in 1951. The little family moved to Dallas briefly where Glenna Renee was born in 1953. They returned to Minneapolis in 1954 where Walter attended Bethel Seminary, while Marian worked at BF Goodrich as a secretary to support the family.

Next came Winona, Minnesota, for Walter’s first pastorate at First Baptist Church. Marian played many roles as a pastor’s wife but was especially active in the church’s women’s ministry. John Charles was born in Winona in 1959.

After Winona, Marian served alongside Walter at Westwood Community Baptist Church in Bloomington, Minnesota; First Baptist Church of Omaha; and Irving Park Baptist Church in Chicago. She was Walter’s right-hand person, confidante, and most trusted advisor.

While in Chicago, Marian began working in the trust department of a bank, and eventually was promoted to be the president’s assistant. It was a job she loved and excelled at, and she continued until her retirement.

In the late 1970s Walter was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease, and Marian became his caregiver, walking steadfastly with her sweetheart through some very dark and challenging months and years, modeling for her children and everyone else the deep love and commitment that God calls us to in marriage. When the time came for Walter to move into Brandel, Marian faithfully visited him every day for the three remaining years of his life. Walter passed away on November 22, 1996.

Marian was a wonderful grandmother and great-grandmother– actually a Mormor! From Gail and Jim Bowker came Nathan and Jessica; from Glenna and Steve Ganster came Kimberly, Erika, and Samuel; from John and Priscilla came Lori and Lin. These grands were so precious to Mormor. She recognized the individuality of each one and loved them uniquely and unconditionally. She rarely if ever turned down opportunities to take care of her grandkids, including overnights. She even had one of them live with her for a year after college. She was a very well loved and appreciated Mormor.

And then the great-grandchildren came along: from Jessica and Doug Camphouse came James, Jillian, Jacob, and Joshua; from Nathan and Kaitlin Bowker came Nora and Corinne; from Erika and Robert Van Harken came Judah, Eden, Livia, and Noa; from Kimberly and Gabriel Suk came Tommy, Irene, and Betty; from Lori and Alan Bernard came Logan; from Lin and Joshua Tomasek came Ezra and Emory. Mormor was able to spend significant amounts of time with many of these great-grands, and she would often work hard on keeping all their names straight! She loved them deeply, and they loved her so much!

Marian moved into Walnut Court at Covenant Living of Northbrook in 2009, and enjoyed several years of relatively carefree living, participating in activities and enjoying the companionship of her neighbors and people she already knew from Winnetka Covenant Church, where she and Walter began attending in the early 1970s. Both CLON and WCC were beloved communities for Marian. She received extraordinary kindness and care from every WCC pastor over the years. And until she was no longer able, Marian contributed to the life of the church in many ways, often bringing meals to people who were sick, and volunteering as a Stephen Minister.

Marian’s final years were spent in Orchard Court due to her Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis. Her final days were attended by various family members, in person and via FaceTime, who spoke their love and blessings and appreciation, and serenaded her into the presence of Jesus with worship songs, finally safe, finally secure, on June 22, 2024. We still see through a glass dimly; but now she sees Him face to face. Praise be to God!

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Marian was pre-deceased by her mother Alpha in 1997 and by her father Carl in 1985; by her brother Donovan in 1980; and by her brother Stanley in 2022.

A celebration of Marian's life will take place at 3pm on Sunday, August 18, 2024 at Winnetka Covenant Church, located at 1200 Hibbard Rd, Wilmette, IL 60091.