Beulah L. Bocek

Missouri, in the Ten Mile Creek Community, to Joseph Edward Rickman and Maud Lee Rickman (Mowery). She graduated high school from the Poplar Bluff school system and moved to St. Louis where she worked in the food service industry at Mrs. Hulling's and The Forum Cafeterias, and the Statler Hotel. She was especially proud that the Statler Hotel awarded her a scholarship to Cornell University in New York for a continuing education curriculum - relatively unheard of at this point in history for women. She returned to Poplar Bluff to teach grades 1-8 at the Halloren and Rushville Schools and met her future husband, Adam Bocek, during this time. They were married in Poplar Bluff at Zion Lutheran Church on November 09, 1946, where she was a member for 65 years, and their marriage produced two children: John Rodney Bocek and Shirley Ann Bocek. Adam predeceased Beulah on September 18, 1981. Beulah worked in food services at the Poplar Bluff school system, Snider's Cafeteria, and The Regional Diagnostic Clinic from which she ultimately retired. She resided for over fifty years at the family home on Robert Street and took great joy in growing large showcase vegetable and flower gardens for many years while sharing the bounty with friends and neighbors. Mrs. Bocek is survived by her son, John R. Bocek and his wife Edna of Georgetown, TX, and her daughter, Shirley A. Batton and her husband Ray of Poplar Bluff. She is also survived by her two granddaughters Chris Hunt of Austin, TX and Julie Lockhart of Chicago, IL, and one grandson Doug Batton of Williamsville, MO, and she had numerous great and great great grandchildren. She is also survived by two brothers, Jim and Charles, of Poplar Bluff, and many nieces and nephews. A sister, Ellen, and a brother, Wayne, predeceased her. Mrs. Bocek died Sunday, September 04, 2011. The family requests that any memorials be sent to: Lutheran Bible Translators, Inc., LaBoube Ministry, P.O. Box 2050, Aurora, IL, 60507-2055.