Robert Oliver Beckner

Robert (Bob) Oliver Beckner went to be with Jesus Sunday morning at sunrise, January 26, 2025, at the age of 88.

Bob was born November 5, 1936, to Francis Harvey and Martha Olive (Wilken) Beckner in rural Levant Kansas, and attended the school districts in Brewster and Goodland, Kansas. In 1959, Bob met the love of his life, Dorothy Elaine Watkins, while he was working at Quality Oil. She would come in to have her car filled with gas and he had to be the one to help her. The two were united in marriage on March 28, 1960, at the Nazarene Church in Goodland. Through this union they had three children, Robert Wayne, Debra Kay and Rodney Ray. The family made their home in Sherman and Thomas counties where Bob worked for several farmers, Great Western Sugar, Horton's Body Shop and Wane's Carpet and Drapery. He was also self-employed as a carpet layer for several years before retiring. 

Bob and Dorothy had 65 adventure-filled years together. They loved camping and fishing at any lake where the fish were biting and the RV camper spot was a pull through. Bob loved camping but he was a terrible backer upper. He loved fishing and knew exactly what bait the fish were biting on. Bob and Dorothy would take many summer trips with their God Sam Club where they would spend the night around a campfire or playing cards. Bob was also a skilled trap shooter. He won many a Thanksgiving turkey and enjoyed the camaraderie with his gun buddies at the Goodland Gun Club.

Bob is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of their home in Goodland; his oldest son, Wayne, and wife, Joy, of Wichita, Kansas; only daughter, Debbie, and husband, Bill Yeutter, of Norton, Kansas; his youngest son, Rodney, and wife, Ann, of Lincoln, Nebraska; five grandchildren, Heather, Charli, Brianna, Matthew and Tiffany; six great-grandchildren, Delaney, Kinlee, Conner, Franklin, Madison and step-granddaughter, Emma. Bob is also survived by his half-sisters, Virginia Ballentine and Jeanette Vrbas, and half-brothers, Jerry Beckner, Sam and Mike Taylor.

Bob was preceded in death by his mother and father, grandson, Robert Joseph Lawson, 2 brothers, Melvin and Leroy, and his best buddy and brother-in-law, Emerson Charles Ballentine, two half-brothers, Stanley and David, and two half-sisters, Velma and Carlotta.

Memorial contributions may be made out to the Norton Christian Church Awana Scholarship and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.