Darrell L. Beck,

Darrell L. Beck, Sr. died November 11, 2007 at his residence. He was 97.Darrell was born on September 5, 1910 in Atlantic, Iowa to Jesse Beck and Mary Burris Beck. He was raised in Atlantic and graduated from Atlantic High School. He attended the Pella College one year before returning to the family businesses during the depression. He farmed and ran the local auto dealership with his father in Atlantic. On August 3, 1935 he married Cecilia Pogge in Omaha, Nebraska.During WWII, Darrell went to work with the Bomber Plant in Omaha, Nebraska. He was an expediter, securing metal for B-29 manufacturing. He then went to work for General Motors Finance Services, structuring loans for the heavy truck division. In addition, Darrel was an experimental driver for General Motors. He was provided with a new test vehicle quarterly to pilot new engines, mechanics, and lubricants before they were implemented to the market place. After years of travel and time from his home, he embarked on a career in financial services. He went to work for the Associates, a finance company, largely providing loans for business and homes. He managed a number of offices in the west and Midwest for a number of years before retiring from the company. Darrell then opened his own finance company in Longmont, Arrow Loan and Finance. He provided both business and personal loans to the community until his retirement in 1975.Darrell was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and a life member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, #1055, Longmont. He enjoyed fishing and traveling, traversing the entire continental United States in his automobile. He was proud to have attended the Indianapolis 500 with his father and sister in 1932.Preceding him in death were his wife and three sisters.Surviving are his son Darrell, Jr. and his wife Danielle of Longmont; three daughters Mary Pasco and her husband Lew of Westminster, CO, Martha Southworth and her husband Robert of Lake Bay, Washington, and Beverly Pol and her husband Jose of Seattle, Washington; 14 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and 8 great great grandchildren.At his request, his body has been donated to science.Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, November 15, 2007 at the Howe Mortuary Chapel, with Reverend Mickey Flaska officiating. Elks Ritual Services will be performed by B.P.O.E. #1055.Contributions may be made to St. John?s Catholic, ?Share the Vision? , 323 Collyer St., Longmont, CO 80501 or HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Suite A, Lafayette, CO 80026.