Bevra Beckler

HELENA - Bevra “Blue Eyes ” J. Beckler, passed away unexpectedly Monday, December. 29, 2008, due to lung emboli, felt to have originated from a chronic foot infection.





Bevra was born November. 7, 1963, to Warren and Barbara Beckler in Glendive. She was a “miracle” as her parents were told not to expect a live birth. She weighed less than 2 pounds and was so tiny she fit into the doctor's hands. When Bevra was only 2, the family moved to Helena when her father began a new job there. She spent her childhood and most of her teenage years in Helena, attending Lincoln Elementary, Helena Junior High and Helena Senior High schools. During her sophomore year, Bevra moved to Seaside, Ore., where she lived with her sister, Brenda, and worked at different resort motels. During that time, Bevra began experiencing symptoms that were later diagnosed as schizophrenia. When young she was known as a shy, giggling, “Martha Mitchell.” After diagnosis she remained the kind and loving person she had always been, but the usual “high-spirited” side of Bevra became more anxious and distrustful of people and any kind of change. She hated to see anyone in pain, mentally or physically, and had an extremely big heart.





Bevra was the second youngest of six children born to Warren and Barbara Beckler. During the early stages of her mental illness, her younger brother, Jimmy, was killed when he was hit by a car on Halloween night in 1981. The two were always seen together so their uncle Fred started the nicknames of Donny and Marie, which stuck. Bevra worked several different places as a motel maid and/or laundry aide. Working and earning her own money gave her a sense of pride and accomplishment, and she was a hard worker. She also crocheted and sold multiple blankets for extra spending money. The skill and speed she possessed in making these blankets were amazing.





The Western Montana Mental Health Center's PACT program assisted Bevra in so many ways. She was very attached to all the workers she encountered in the program and they were very important to her. About a year before her death, Bevra quit smoking using Chantix. She also was slowly losing some of the weight put on due to the use of her psychotropic medications and looked healthier and “brighter” than she had in a long time.





In 1999, her father died after a year-plus battle with lung cancer; her younger brother, baby of the family, preceded her in death in 1981.





Bevra leaves behind many loved ones as well as many friends at Sunset Capital apartments in Helena, where she lived for almost 20 years.





She is survived by her mother Barbara Beckler of Missoula; her sister Marshia and spouse, Fred Decker, of Shelton, Wash., and their children Tonia and spouse Che' Garrard (nieces Isabella, Elena and 8-week-old Jessie), Kristy and spouse Mitch Stamper (nieces Kylie and MiKenna), and Andrea Decker; her sister Brenda and her spouse Rick Ford of Beaver Creek, Ore., and their children Autumn Dinsmore and Glenda Ford; her brother Don Beckler of Morehead City, N.C.; her sister Rena Ayres of Kalispell, and children, Amryn and Chris. Bevra also leaves behind multiple family members in Bowman, as well as other North Dakota areas, and many other states.





A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, January. 7, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 202 Brooks Ave., in Missoula, with Pastor Chris Flohr officiating.








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