Kenneth LeRoy Becwar

Notes:

When Kenneth was born in 1947, he had 12 living grandparents and great grandparents. He married Shirley WELLMAN in 1968, and a daughter Shannon Dee Becwar (now MEE). (Milligan, Nebraska, 1988-2008, p. 109). He later married Sandra ODLE, who had a son, Chad Odle (dob 10 Jun 1969). Chad changed his name to Becwar. Ken and Sandy passed away in 1993, and are buried at the Bohemian National Cemetery south of Milligan. Chad and his wife, Keri (Bailey) have two children, Austin and Jordyn. They live in Lincoln, where Chad is the manager at J. C. Penney & Company (Milligan, Nebraska, 1988-2008, pp. 108-110).

Kenneth married Sandra L. Noble after 1969. Sandra (daughter of Arlene Catherine Shafer) was born on 14 Oct 1946; died on 1 Jun 1993; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living

Notes:

Leonard was a farmer. He also worked in agricultural sales, being employed by Nebr-Kansas-Colorado Grain Company, A.C.E. Supply and Equipment, and later as factory manager at the Fairmount Air Base. After his parents retired, he moved back to the farm. In 1968, due to his failing eyesight, he purchased a tavern in Milligan. (Milligan, p 195).

In Memory of
Leonard M. Becwar
From the Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy

Leonard Mike Becwar was born August 22, 1924 to Mike Becwar Jr and Mollie (Kuska) Becwar on a farm north of Milligan and passed away on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at the Friend Manor in Friend at the age of 83 years 6 months and 11 days. He attended rural school Dist #6 north of Milligan and graduated from Milligan High School in 1941 where he played the clarinet in the band. After graduation Leonard farmed with his father.

On August 28, 1945, he was united in marriage to DeLores "Dee" Witfoth at the Methodist Parsonage in Friend and to this union three children, Kenneth, Dawn and Mark were born.

They farmed south of Friend on DeLores's grandfather's farm. They moved to a farm 1/8 of a mile east of her folks, then to a farm south of Exeter and after two years they moved to Ohiowa. Leonard worked with the NKC Grain Company and NKC promoted him to Ace Supply at Fairmont. He soon was transferred to Salina KS with the Grain Co of Simpson, Laybourn, Miller and Stark. Leonard traveled for this company throughout Nebraska and Kansas. In 1958, he returned to Fairmont to manage the Ace Supply Co at the airbase.

After a retina detachment, he moved to his parent's home place north of Milligan when they retired. While on the farm, he started a small musical combo consisting of his Uncle Frank Becwar on drums and Leonard on accordion. When Uncle Frank couldn't go to dance jobs, Leonard took his daughter Dawn or son Mark to drum. Leonard had always loved music and his father taught him to play the button accordion before he started to school, allowing him to play with his father at dances. Leonard and his cousin Ernie Becwar played at a talent contest and won a diamond ring which they gave to their cousin Darlene. They had the ring appraised and found it to be worth only $2.00... but were still happy they had won the contest. Because of poor eyesight, he learned to play instruments by ear and while in high school, his music teacher noted that he couldn't see the notes, but was an excellent musician and encouraged him to keep up the good work.

His eyesight continued to fail and he purchased the LB Inn in Milligan where he enjoyed visiting with friends and hosting bands. After giving up his driver's license and he started a recording business "LB Tapes" and recorded combos and small groups. Successful eye surgery allowed him to regain his driver's license and he sold the bar and started his advertising business, selling for Zenith Pictorial and Waco Advertising. With this new vision also came his big band dream. The Leonard Becwar Orchestra "The LB Band" played for wedding and anniversary dances and more. All the members were treasured for their musical abilities and friendship. Leonard also sang with the Milligan Czech Brass Band for several years. At the Doane Czech Program, in his absence due to ill health, his chair was filled with a small black teddy bear donning a similar band vest and a tiny accordion with the Becwar name on it; a special gift and featured in the Lincoln Journal story. Leonard's love for polka music gained him a spot in the Polka Hall of Fame in Omaha NE and he also was a charter member of the Musicians' Hall of Fame at Milligan.

After an invitation to sponsor a tour to the Oktoberfest in Munich Germany, Leonard and Dee started a tour business, arranging more than 90 tours with over 900 people over 20 years. Many of his home town people traveled with him to Czechoslovakia, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Austria, along with sightseeing tours to Canada and most of the US. Polka tours covered Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Idaho and Southern states.

Leonard was a member and past Grand Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. He also belonged to the Milligan Community Club and enjoyed his part in organizing the Centennial Celebration of Milligan in 1988. He served on the Milligan Town Board, Milligan Fire & Rescue, and was a member of the Milligan United Methodist Church, later transferring to the Friend United Methodist Church.

With his failing health, they sold their Milligan home in 2005 and moved to Friendship Terrace in Friend. Leonard was admitted to the Friend Manor on March 1, 2006 and he enjoyed participating in various activities. Leonard and his wife had enjoyed entertaining at the Friend Manor for several years and he often played his accordion while a resident the past two years. Highlights include members of his former band, Sue and Blue River Czechs, playing for the residents to celebrate his 82nd birthday, their 61st wedding anniversary.

Leonard is survived by his wife, DeLores, Friend, daughter and son-in-law Dawn and Douglas Mundt, Crete, son, Mark Becwar, Lincoln, grandchildren, spouses and great grandchildren include Shannon and Shaun Mee and their children Autumn, Allison, Austin, Ashlyn and Aiden, Colorado Springs, CO, Jennifer Becwar and Matt Daringer and their children, Scoie and Cooper, Lincoln, Kamron Becwar, Seattle, WA, Chad and Keri Becwar and children Austin & Jordyn, Lincoln, Chandler Becwar, Wray, CO, Jarod and Stacey Mundt, Papillion, Julie and Jared Rohrs, Lincoln, and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mike and Mollie Becwar, son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth and Sandy Becwar, brother, LeRoy Becwar and parents in-law, Clarence and Bertha Witfoth.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at the Milligan Auditorium, with Rev. Paixao Baptista officiating. Interment in the Milligan Bohemian Cemetery. Visitation Tuesday from 1pm ? 9pm at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home with the family greeting relatives and friends from 4-6pm. Visitation also one hour before the service in Milligan. Memorials have been established to the Friend United Methodist Church, the Warren Memorial Hospital Foundation, or directed in care of the family. Pallbearers are Gayle Becwar, Glaen Kuska, Jon Halama, Wm. Slezak III, Roger Brandt and Steve Rodenbaugh. Honored Guests are anyone who played with The Becwar Band. Pianist, Deb Brunkow, accompanied the congregation as they sang "Because He Lives". Sue Underwood, Galen Beck, Kelly Homolka and Randy Korbelik played and sang "When Our Paths Meet" and "Pisnicka Ceska".

Leonard married Delores "Dee" Eleanor Witfoth on 28 Aug 1945 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska. Delores (daughter of Clarence C. Witfoth and Bertha O. Kasl) was born on 11 Apr 1925 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska; died on 2 May 2009 in Crete, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried on 6 May 2009 in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Dee taught school in Saline and Fillmore County. She was later head teacher in Ohiowa. (Milligan, p 195). She taught for 43 years and retired in 1987. (Milligan, Nebraska, 1988-2008, p. 110).

DeLores Eleanor (Witfoth) Becwar went on her last trip on Thursday, May 2, 2019 leaving from Tabitha Gardens at Crete, Nebraska at the age of 94. She was born April 11, 1925 to Clarence and Bertha (Kasl) Witfoth on a farm nine miles south of Friend. DeLores attended Sunflower Country School District #100 in Saline County through the 8th grade. Both her grandfathers (Fred Witfoth and Joe Kasl) had attended this school as well as her father. Dee graduated from Friend High School with the class of 1942.

On August 28, 1945, she was united in marriage to Leonard Becwar in Friend. To this union three children were born: Kenneth LeRoy, Dawn Eloise and Mark Leonard. They lived in Ohiowa, Fairmont, Salina, Kansas, Milligan and Friend. Recently Dee moved to Crete after Leonard passed away.

Dee ("Mrs B" to her students) taught in several schools during her 43-year career: Districts 100 and 90 (which was north of District 100), Spunky Hollow (North of Western), Golden Egg (East of Milligan), District 33 (South of Exeter), Ohiowa, Fairmont and Milligan Public Schools. She touched the lives of over 1,000 students from Kindergarten through the 9th grade. Mrs. B was reminded by several of her former students about "Station BECWAR". If this station was on-the-air they had better be tuned in. They made comments about having fun and enjoyed her sense of humor. But also knew when they should get down to business.

Her hobbies included bowling, crocheting, knitting, quilting, oil painting, tole painting plus her special collection of over 1,200 bells. Reading, playing games and connecting with friends on FaceBook on her IPad and playing bingo were her favorite pastimes these past 5 years. From 1977 to 1997, Dee and LB planned over 90 tours and had a mailing list of 370 couples and singles. She enjoyed giving talks about their tours to organizations and her students. She was known as Mama Dee when singing with the LB Orchestra.

Dee was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Leonard in 2008, son, Kenneth and his wife Sandy in 1993.

Leaving to mourn are her daughter, Dawn (Doug) Mundt, Crete, son Mark, Albuquerque, NM. Seven grandchildren and spouses, Shannon (Shaun) Mee, Colorado Springs CO, Chad Becwar, Lincoln, Jennifer Becwar, Lincoln, Kamron Becwar, Boca Del Toro, Panama, Jarod (Stacey) Mundt, Windsor, CO, Julie (Jared) Rohrs, Lincoln and Chandler Marintzer, Greeley, CO, eleven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson, nieces, a nephew, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 6-8 pm at the funeral home on Sunday.

Notes:

Mike was an accordian player and for a time had a band, playing for house parties and dance halls. Back then, whenever someone emptied a granary or hay mow it was not unusual to get a dance set up. During the late 1930's, Mike worked for the Corn-Hog program. He served for several years on the P.M.A. and AAA Programs as County Committeeman. He was also onthe Board of Directors fo the Federal Land Bank in the area. After he retired, he continued to help his son Leonard at the farm, and later at his tavern. (Milligan, p 195).

Matej married Mollie Marie Kuska on 22 Aug 1922. Mollie (daughter of John Kuska, Sr. and Mary Stetina) was born on 10 Mar 1907 in Ohiowa, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 29 Jun 1973; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mollie was active in the Women's Clubs, 4-H, and church. She was always willing to lend a helping hand. Cooking was a big thing to her. No one stopped by without having a cup of coffee and a kolache. (Milligan, p 195).

Notes:

SSN 507-44-4468

Clarence married Bertha O. Kasl. Bertha was born on 20 Jun 1907 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska; died on 3 Aug 2002 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Witfoth-- Bertha O., 95, Friend, widow of Clarence, died Saturday (8/3/02). Born, rural Friend (6/20/07). Attended country school districts 49 and 64 and Friend High School. Homemaker; also former baker, cook for Friend City Cafe and LB Inn, Milligan.

Survivors: daughter, son-in-law, DeLores and Leonard Becwar, Milligan; two grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Edna Kasl, Friend; many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by parents; husband; two brothers; two sisters; one grandson.
Services: 10:30 a.m. Monday, Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Friend. The Rev. Tessa Louch. Andrew Cemetery, Friend. Visitation: 3-9 p.m. today, funeral home. Memorials to Milligan Rescue Unit or the family.

(Courtesy Dennis Belohlavy, Lincoln Journal Star, 4 Aug 2002)

Notes:

Shown as Matthew on the 1880 census.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 Census
Nebraska, Saline County, Olive Precinct
ED 76-16 SD 11 Sheet 5B
Enumerated April 30, 1930
106-106
Becwar, Mike Hd M W 57 M 24 Neb Czech Czech Farmer
Becwar, Josephine Wf F W 57 M 24 Ill Czech Czech
Becwar, August Son M W 18 S Neb Neb Ill Farm Laborer
Becwar, Vlasty Dtr F W 14 S Neb Neb Ill

Matej married Josephine Bech on 23 Feb 1897. Josephine (daughter of Johann "Jan" Bech and Anna Kotas) was born on 26 Sep 1870 in Kozojedy, Plzen, Bohemia; died on 24 Jul 1951 in Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The first Milligan History book shows her as born in Kozojedy, Plzen. However, the 1930 census instead shows her place of birth as Illinois. The supplemental Milligan book shows that Josephine was born on 26 Sept 1870 in Kozojedy #74, and notes that this was contradictary to the date of 4 Jun 1873. This book also indicates that she is one of four children born in Bohemia to Johann/Jan BECH and Anna KOTASOVA of Kozojedy. Josephine came with her parents and siblings to Braidwood, Illinois on September 15, 1873. Her parents had three children born in Illinois. The family moved to Nebraska in 1881 and settled first with the Kotas family and then bought a farm in Atlanta Township in Saline County. Jan's feet were frozen during the blizzard of 1888, and died shortly thereafter. Anna went to live with her son Joseph on the farm. Both are buried in the Cesky Brati Cemetery (Milligan, 1988-2008, pp. 107 and 108).

Notes:

Married:
They lived on the farm that had been purchased by Mike's father, Frantisek, in 1871, the SW 1/4 of Section 23 in Liberty Township, Fillmore County. Mike passed this farm on to his son, Michael, Jr. in 1922 and moved to a farm a mile west of Tobias. They later moved to Geneva and finally to Milligan in 1948, where they lived until their deaths. (Milligan, p 195).

John married Mary Stetina on 26 Feb 1900. Mary was born before 1887; died on 1 Jan 1959 in Exeter, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]