Marie E. Bekish

Marie E. Bekish, 81, of Sioux City died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007, at a Sioux City hospital following a brief illness.

Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Roger Madden officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 7 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Anderson-Perasso Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Mrs. Bekish was born Sept. 30, 1925, in Gregory, S.D., the daughter of William and Emily (Lopour) Warnkvist. She graduated from Alcester (S.D.) High School in 1942. She moved to Sioux City with her sister, Ruby, in 1943.

She married Max Bekish on July 3, 1947, in Ponca, Neb. He preceded her in death on Dec. 21, 1996. The couple lived in Sioux City for the remainder of their lives. She and her husband owned Bub's Collectables and Used Furniture on Fourth Street for 18 years, retiring in 1996. She also worked for Sioux City Battery, Cudahy's Packing Plant, Brothers Box Company, The Normandy Restaurant and Sioux City Community Schools lunch program.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She enjoyed being with her family, reading, discussing politics and cooking and baking for her family as long as she could get her dishes back.

Survivors include a daughter, Pamela Underwood and her significant other, Reid Finnell of Sioux City; a son and his wife, Michael "Stretch" and Penny Bekish of Sioux City; two sisters, Ruby Barber of South Sioux City and Ardyth and her husband, Louis "Bud" Karel of Dallas, S.D.; nine grandchildren, Dr. Erin Underwood and his wife, Jody, Jesse Underwood and his wife, Jessica, Justin Bekish and his wife, Tammy, Zachary Bekish and his wife, Amber, Dustina Canez, Melissa Scofield, Travis Dawdy, Shauntella Dawdy and Chastity Bekish; a great-granddaughter, Jasmine Underwood; and seven additional great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and two brothers, Howard and Harlan Warnkvist.

Pallbearers will be Bob Barber, Randy Barber, Gary Karel, Jim Karel, Zachary Bekish and William Bekish. Honorary pallbearers will be Reid Finnell, Jim Johnson, Travis Dawdy, John Bekish and Bo Barber.