Memorable Manitobans: Una Bernice Bjarnason “Byrdye” Beckel (1927-2008)

Community worker.

Born at Winnipeg on 29 May 1927, daughter of Bjarni Peter Bjarnason (c1895-1973) and Una Bjarnason (?-?), she resided most of her life in East Kildonan. On 5 March 1949, she married James Roger “Jim” Beckel (1923-1987) at First Lutheran Church and they subsequently had a daughter and two sons. She worked delivering Meals on Wheels and later became Coordinator of Volunteers, she was a representative for the Welcome Wagon, secretary for home welfare and was Executive Director of the Christmas Cheer Board of Greater Winnipeg (1974-1996). In recognition of her community service, she was inducted into the Order of the Buffalo Hunt (1996). She died at Winnipeg on 12 May 2008.

Sources:

“Beckel-Bjarnason wedding in First Lutheran Church,” Winnipeg Tribune, 7 March 1949, page 11.

Obituary [Bjarni Peter Bjarnason], Winnipeg Free Press, 16 May 1973, page 40.

Obituary [James Roger Beckel], Winnipeg Free Press, 27 February 1987, page 51.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 17 May 2008.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 7 October 2024

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:

Custom Search

Browse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

Browse deaths occurring in:
1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024


Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca

Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements

Help us keep
history alive!