Vicki Putman Beeman

Preceding Vicki in death were her parents, Leland Putman and Vivian Payne Putman Kimball, and her niece Julie Plummer.

Vicki is survived by her husband, David Beeman, her sisters Nancy Etten of Bitely, Michigan and Lora (& Hosea) Goodwin of Otisville, Michigan, her nieces Lisa Glasco of Flint, Michigan, Amy (& Randy) Misener of Bitely, Michigan, Amanda Gager of Millington, Michigan and nephew Zacharey (& Jennifer) Gager also of Millington. Vicki is also survived by her Aunt Vera Switalski of Flushing, Michigan.

Vicki was a Life Member of Weight Watchers, joining about the year 2000. She was recognized for losing 65 pounds. Shortly after joining, she began volunteering to help check people in at the Weight Watcher meetings and was soon hired. Vicki became part of the layoffs during the pandemic, when Weight Watchers weren’t allowed to meet.

That pandemic also ended Vicki’s long association with a Red Hat Society group in Hanford, which she had joined as soon as she was old enough.

When Vicki joined the US Air Force in 1974, she was stationed at Lackland AFB in San Antonio for Basic Training, and Keesler AFB in Biloxi for technical training. She then was stationed as permanent party at Lowry AFB, Colorado and Langley AFB, Virginia.

Vicki and David were married 30 July 1977 in Trinity United Methodist Church in Lapeer. The ceremony was officiated by David’s uncle, Rev. Russell Hetsler.

After Vicki and David moved to Hanford in the summer of 1988, Vicki was hired by the First United Methodist Church as its church secretary, directly applying the skills and training she learned in the Air Force, including checking that doors were locked upon departure.

Vicki and David found a church home there and were involved in many aspects of church life. Vicki served as the church financial secretary, in several position-duties with the United Methodist Women, attended many UMW retreats, and sang in the choir under at least four different choir directors.

As a child, Vicki attended German School through sixth grade. It was a two-room school on German Road outside Lapeer. That was followed by Lapeer Junior High, and Lapeer High School, Class of 1970.

In Hanford, she also supported the Kings Players at the Temple Theater, by serving several terms as a working board member, doing the coordination of volunteers, the script review committee, and as a recurring ticket taker in the lobby.

But her efforts in the church were probably exceeded by the fun and camaraderie she found in the Lions Clubs. Vicki served as club president of the Hanford Breakfast Lions Club in 1999-2000, as District 4-A2 cabinet secretary-treasurer in 2007-2008, and then as the 4-A2 District Governor in 2010-2011. Then she returned for a second term as club president in 2013-2014. In between, she held Zone and regional offices, served on projects, teams and committees at District level and at Multiple District level chaired both the Budget & Finance Committee and the State Convention Management Committee. During all this she served at least 12 years as her club’s Secretary. She is a legacy gift donor to Guide Dogs for the Blind and other Lions projects.

A memorial service is planned for Vicki at 10 AM sharp on Monday, February 9 at First United Methodist Church of Hanford, 505 North Redington Street. If you need a room for the night, please note that the World Ag Expo opens Feb. 10, so no rooms will be available the night of Feb. 9. Military ceremonies and the interment of ashes will take place at 1:15 PM (sharp) at Bakersfield National Cemetery that same day.