FREDERICK KEITH BECKETT

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FREDERICK KEITH BECKETT

Frederick passed away peacefully on October 24, 2022 at Concordia Place in Winnipeg, aged 90, with his loving wife and dance partner of more than three decades, Valerie Simons, close to his heart.
Fred was born on February 20, 1932 in Regina, Saskatchewan and grew up there. He was in the radio electronics and radar field for most of his working life. After a short stint in the Canadian Army Reserves, he graduated in 1951 from the Radio College of Canada in Toronto and set out to see the world, working as a radio operator for the RCMP in Swift Current and at a long range navigation station on the British Columbia coast, then heading out to sea where he worked on various ships including the weather ship St. Catharines stationed in the Pacific Ocean, a freighter, and several fishing trawlers in the North Sea, while acquiring more training at the Radio College of Canada and at the Hull Industrial College in England. Along the way, Fred visited Japan, Curacao and ports on the US Eastern Seaboard and in the UK, travelled through the Panama Canal and visited the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels.
Returning to Canada, he spent some time at the Montreal Region office of the federal Department of Transport before settling in Winnipeg as a radio technician in 1960, joining the DOT Central Region office and working on various air navigation systems at airports across Northwestern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Arctic as far north as Alert Station on Ellesmere Island.
He eventually moved into management and finally retired in Winnipeg in 1990 after a total of 35 years of DOT service. He resided in St. Vital while his children were growing up and later moved to East Kildonan with Valerie. Fred and Val enjoyed an active retirement, filled with home improvement projects, golf, family history and Legion dances. He was embraced by Val's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren during holidays and family events. Fred was always ready for a road trip, travelling with Val on many holidays through Canada and the US.
Fred was predeceased in Regina by father Percy John (Jack) Beckett and mother Lily (Lillian) Florence Beckett (née Fitzgerald) and in Winnipeg by sister Hilda Ellen Shore and brother-in-law Stanley Ralph Shore. Missed by brother George (Bev); remembered with laughter and love by daughter Lynda (Kevin); sons, Bryan (Tracy) and Daryl; granddaughters, Laurel, Willow, Kelsey, Mikayla and Daryl-Hannah; grandson Barry; great-grandsons, Carter and Jacoby; nephew Rick (Diane) in Winnipeg and other nephews, nieces and family members in Western Canada.
In accordance with Fred's wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of Fred's life will be held with family and friends on Saturday, October 29, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the clubhouse at Dawson Trail Apartments, 15 Leveque Street, Winnipeg, enter off Paterson Street. All are welcome.
Please consider donating to CancerCare Manitoba in Fred's memory.
A photo-biography, as well as memories and stories published by those who knew him are available at EthicalDeathCare.com

ETHICAL DEATH CARE
Simple Cremation & Life Celebrations
204-421-5501 – EthicalDeathCare.com

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 29, 2022