Clayton Dean Beckler was born on a farm near Milford on July 10, 1923, to Edward and Fannie (Roth) Beckler, the second of nine children, and passed away on May 4, 2015, at his home at Emeritus Heartland Park in Seward at the age of 91 years, nine months and 25 days.
As a young man, Clayton accepted Christ as his personal savior and was baptized at East Fairview Mennonite Church, where he was a life-long member. On Aug. 29, 1948, he was united in marriage to Berniece M. Roth at East Fairview Mennonite Church, and to this union seven children were born: Janet, Iris, David, Sara, Michael, Carl and Russell.
Together they made their home briefly in Wellman, Iowa, before returning to Nebraska where Clayton and his family farmed southwest of Milford. In his early years, he participated in the Civilian Public Service, serving as a firefighter in Glacier National Park in Montana and working at a hospital in Marlboro, New Jersey, for several years. In addition, he worked for his uncle, Edward Roth, in Yoder, Kansas. In 1983, Clayton and Berniece moved into Milford.
Survivors include his children and spouses, Janet and Anthony “Chip” Foderaro, Schwenksville, Pennsylvania; Iris and Albert Driver, Lederach, Pennsylvania; David and Leisa Beckler, Salt Lake City, Utah; Sara and Lon Hansen, Souderton, Pennsylvania; Michael and Kathy Beckler, Harrisonburg, Virginia; and Carl and Karen Beckler, Middle Granville, New York; 15 grandchildren and spouses, Grant Beckler, Garett and Amy Beckler, Kevin Driver, Andrew Foderaro and fiancé Stephanie Catanese, Annette and Chad Forry, Melissa and Keith King, Laurelyn Foderaro, Scott and April Beckler, Jordan and Kimberly Beckler, Jocelyn Beckler, Joshua Beckler, Bryant Beckler and fiancé Melissa McMillan, Isaac Beckler, Benjamin Beckler and Rachel Hansen; four great-grandchildren, Clayton Forry, Anna Forry, Alyse King and Jada Beckler; sisters and brothers-in-law, Grace and Morris Stauffer, Monument, Colorado; Inez and Thurlowe Stauffer, Sun City, Arizona; and Faye Beckler, Glendale, Arizona; a brother and sister-in-law, Norman and Diane Beckler, Philadelphia, Tennessee; a sister-in-law, Irene Beckler, Hutchinson, Kansas; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Grace and Dale Grieser, West Point; Eunice and Marvin Oswald, Allen; Vada and Kenneth Roth, Dorchester; Anna Mae Roth and Richard Miller, both of Milford; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Clayton was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Fannie Beckler; his wife, Berniece, on Jan. 15, 2015; an infant son, Russell; granddaughters, Adrea Driver and Jacquelyn Beckler; sisters Lucille Yoder, Margaret Kauffman and Ethel Beckler; a brother, Maurice Beckler; brother-in-law, Earl Roth; sister-in-law, Shirley Miller and parents-in-law, Chris and Mary Roth.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2015, at East Fairview Mennonite Church, Milford, with Pastors Kyle Roth and Bill Saltzman officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation is Friday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home in Milford, and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the church, with family greeting friends and relatives. Viewing will also be one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.
Memorials have been established to the East Fairview Mennonite Church.
