Leona May Jennings Hardesty Beckwith, 89
Leona May Jennings Hardesty Beckwith was born on Jan. 17, 1921, in Bridgeport, Neb., to Ella May and Charlie Arthur Jennings, the sixth of nine children. She passed away on May 27, 2010, in Meridian at the age of 89.
She was raised on small farms in Nebraska, Montana and South Dakota. In 1925 Leona, her family of nine and her Uncle Fred and his family of nine traveled by covered wagon to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Near Rapid City, they were stopped by a movie company and asked if their wagons and families could be used in a movie. Fifi DeOre and Jack Hoxie were starring in "Overland Stage."
Her mom and dad at one time owned the grocery store and post office at Rockford Bay on Lake Coeur d'Alene.
In 1939 Leona married Charles Hardesty of Torrington, Wyo. They lived in Wyoming for 10 years working in the Hardesty Trucking business and owning a Kaiser/Frazer-Studebaker car dealership. In 1956 they moved to Coeur d'Alene to be near Leona's family.
Leona was floor manager for Woolworth's in Coeur d' Alene for 17 years. Charles passed away in 1975 and Leona spent the winters in Boise with her only child, Donna Marie Hardesty Jarman.
In 1980 she married Vem Beckwith of Nampa, whom she had met working as a hostess at a Perkin's Restaurant owned by her daughter and son-in-law. Vem moved to Coeur d'Alene to be with Leona and they lived in her home there for 22 years until his death in 2002. Vem and Leona were constant companions and loved working in their yard. Leona was an accomplished gardener and enjoyed several types of handiwork. Their gardens were some of the most beautiful in Coeur d'Alene.
Since 2004 Leona had been residing in Eagle with her daughter, Donna and her husband, Ray, close to her grandchildren Kelly Daudt and Marc Rhoades. Her great-grandchildren, Lindsey Daudt age 19 and Parker Daudt, 14, were very special to her. She was also blessed to be able to see her newest great-grandchild, Zoe, Marc's little girl who was only 5 months old when Leona passed away.
Leona is survived by her sister, Lois Mullen (Vic) of Weippe; her daughter, Donna Jarman (Ray) of Eagle; grandchildren Kelly Daudt and Marc Rhoades (Shannon) of Boise and great-grandchildren Lindsey Daudt, Parker Daudt and Zoe Rhoades and many special nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands, Charles Hardesty and Vem Beckwith; her older sister, Berenice Deming (Bruce) and six brothers, Dale (Eathel), Edward (Edna, still living), Everett (Vena), Arthur (Elsie), Roy and Wayne Jennings.
On Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, an Open House will be held from 2-5 p.m. at the Ameritel lnn at 333 Ironwood Drive in Coeur d'Alene as a Celebration of Leona's life.