MADELEINE (BECKNER) FRESE was born May 1, 1916, at Walthill, Nebraska,  to Lee and Josephine (Beaudette) Beckner. She passed away Monday, April 21, 2008, at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa, at the age of 91 years.

Madeleine attended Walthill public school and graduated in 1934. She attended Business College in Omaha, Nebraska, and worked in the office of Reed Ice Cream Company for several years.  She attended Cosmetology School and received a certificate from Charles of the Ritz Cosmetic Company in New York City. Madeleine worked at Kilpatrick Department Sore as a cosmetic consultant for sixteen years.

Madeleine was married to Victor Sutherland on May 23, 1936 until his death in 1963. In 1967, she married Thomas Cronin and worked with him in his interior decorating company until his untimely death in 1973. In 1975, she married Harold Frese at St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Lyons. They moved from Omaha to Lyons and were married for twenty-eight years.

Madeleine was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. She enjoyed reading, traveling and loved to play in her pinochle card club.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands: Victor Sunderland, Thomas Cronin and Harold Frese; sister: Ardice Blank; brother: Cleo Beckner and step-son: Harlan Frese.

Survivors include two nieces: Charlotte (Terry) Bentley of Omaha, Sandra Fenner of Fremont; nephew: William (Virginia) Beckner of Lincoln, Nebraska; three stepchildren:  Lynn Frese of Fremont, Nebraska; Janice (Larry) Smith of Pender, Nebraska, Karen (Jerry) Houpt of Sioux City, Iowa and six step grandchildren.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Thursday, April 24, 2008, 10:30 a.m., at St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Lyons, Nebraska.

VISITATION: Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 1 - 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 5 - 7 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home Lyons. Visitation will also be held Thursday at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Lyons Cemetery, Lyons, Nebraska

MEMORIALS: Lyons Public Library

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com