In Loving Memory

Marian Beardsley

Marian Beardsley, age 99, a longtime resident of Colville, WA, passed away on February 1, 2022 at her home.  Marian was born on April 25, 1922 in Ashton, SD.

In Ashton, she was raised and attended school.  There she graduated from Ashton High School in 1940.  Marian then traveled to Minnesota where she attended business school for 2 years and learned secretarial skills such as bookkeeping and shorthand which would prove to serve her well throughout the years ahead.  She moved to Colville, WA and began working as the bookkeeper for her sister and brother-in-law, Bea and Sid Zoodsma, at Zoodsma Plumbing and Heating.  She caught the eye of a co-worker, Charles Beardsley, and soon they were dating.  On January 20, 1946, they exchanged vows and began a family.  While Marian's boys were young, she worked in the home, but in 1953, she and Charles completed construction and opened the RoyRon Motel, a nine-room motel with rooms for rent from $2.50 to $3.50 a night.  They owned and operated the motel for 10 years.  Marian then became the secretary for Colville School District.  She enjoyed this work and after two decades retired in the mid 1980's.

She and Charles loved to travel and began touring sites and cities from within the U.S. and Mexico to Africa.  Their yearly trip to the National Finals Rodeo was a favorite with close friends the Hull's and the Fuhrman's.  Marian also enjoyed horses and horseback riding in the local outdoors.  In her later years, Marian attended art classes. As her passion for painting grew, she began traveling throughout the countryside photographing and painting old barns and homesteads.  Her family Christmas letter came with extra care as she hand-painted the yearly image that adorned the card.  Her family looked forward to her personal and penned birthday letters and the attentive love she gave to each of them.  Marian valued others and remembered nearly everyone she met, by name.  Summers were spent at their family cabin on Lake Sherry, which is a treasured place for the family to this day.  Marian shared her love for music at numerous family, community and church gatherings, as well as at home, on the piano that was her mom's.  She was a woman of impeccable class, wit and great one-liners.  Cards kept the family and friends around the dinner table after meals, holiday gathers and Friday nights with pizza.  Marian shared and leaves in legacy her wonderful sense of humor and her love of family.

She was preceded in death by her youngest son, Ron Beardsley, her husband of 43 years, Charles Beardsley and her 4 siblings, Winnifred "Billi" Schreckengost, Don West, Helen Carr and Bea Zoodsma.

She is survived by her eldest son, Royce Beardsley of Colville, WA; grandchildren, Chad Beardsley (Cassi) of Colville, DeAnna Dell of Colville, WA, Adam Beardsley (Stacey) of Oroville, WA, Brigette Acord (Brian) of Oroville, WA; Steve Dell of Addy, WA; great grandchildren, Kyra, Mason, Violet, Deacon, Tiana, Jaidyn, Cameron, Cooper, Jordan, Tanner, Colton, Tucker and Gunner, numerous nieces, nephews and a host extended family and friends.

The funeral service for Marian will begin at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, February 10, 2022 at the Danekas Funeral Chapel in Colville, WA.  A graveside service and vault interment will follow at the Mountain View Park Cemetery in Colville. Pastor Shane Moffitt will officiate.  Memorial contributions may be given to Colville Dollars for Scholars.   Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements.