Theodora Beck SSND

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Biography

Theodora Mary Beck was born on June 1, 1900 in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. She is the daughter of Albert Beck and Sophia Menne. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

The 1900 Federal Census, taken June 1st, listed Theodora, age 6/12, as living with her parents Albert and Sophia and her sisters Margaret M. Beck, Mary S. Beck and Theresa M. Beck at 2109 Irving Avenue in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. ^[4]

Theodora started first grade at SS. Peter & Paul Elementary School when she was four years old on account of having to be a companion to her older sister Theresa. ^[5]

The 1905 Minnesota State Census, taken June 5th, listed Theodora Mary, age 5, as living with her parents Albert and Sophia and her sisters Margaret Mary, Mary Sophia and Theresa Mary, her brothers Aloysius N. Beck and Joseph A. Beck and her aunt Clara Menne at 453 Sixth Street in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota. ^[6]

The 1910 Federal Census, taken April 19th, listed Theodora, age 9, as living with her parents Albert and Sophia, her sisters Margaret, Mary, Theresa, Agnes M. Beck and Bertha M. Beck, her brothers Aloysius N. and Joseph A. and her aunt Clara Menne at 453 North Sixth Street in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota. ^[7]

When the Motherhouse on Good Counsel Hill was completed in 1912, some of the school girls were invited to help with the cleaning of the new building. Among the happy care-free girls who assisted with this work were Theodora and her sister Mary. ^[8]

Theodora finished the eighth grade at SS. Peter & Pauls' and then began a commercial course at Our Lady of Good Counsel Academy. She graduated on June 16, 1916, and then began a few years of good hard struggle, since she had to assist her dear father as bread winner for the family. On account of World War I, it was impossible for her to get a stenographic position for which she had been prepared, so she had to take work in a laundry. After the War, she was fortunate in securing a position as a stenographer in the office of Attorney C. O. Dailey where she worked three years. ^[9]

The 1919 Mankato City Directory listed Theodora as a steographer with C. O. Dailey and living with her father Albert J. and her brother Aloysius at 453 North Sixth Street in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota. ^[10]

The 1920 Federal Census, taken January 7th, listed Theodora, age 19, as living with her parents Albert and Sophia, her sisters Agnes and Bertha, her brothers Joseph A. and Raymond A. Beck at 453 North Sixth Street in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota. She was employed as a stenographer in a lawyer's office. ^[11]

Theodora had a paternal aunt, Sister Mary Palemona Beck (Sophia Beck), and a maternal aunt, Sister Mary Reinolda Menne (Theodora M. Menne), who had entered the religious life as School Sisters of Notre Dame. The Sisters had their Motherhouse for the Province of Mankato located there in Mankato.

But the family still needed Theodora's help until July 1921, when she was free to follow the vocation she had so long desired to embrace. Theodora resigned her position and got ready to enter the Candidature on the feast of St. Augustine, August 28, 1921. During her first year of Candidature she assisted with the Commercial Class work in the Academy which had this advantage, she could remain in the Motherhouse. The second year Theodora was sent with the pioneers to the School Sister of the Notre Dame's new mission at Loretto, Hennepin, Minnesota. Theodora stated, "Opening a new mission has its difficulties but also its comical phases and many and varied were the experiences of that year." ^[12]

On August 14, 1923, Theodora entered the Novitiate. On August 22, 1924, She was sent with three other Novices to Clara City, Chippewa, Minnesota, but her joy was short lived. A few days later, August 26, she received notice to journey on to St. Leo, Yellow Medicine, Minnesota, where she spent the second novitiate year teaching the fifth and sixth grades. ^[13]

Following Profession on August 12, 1925, Theodora (Sister Mary Baptist) was to spend the next 46 years of her life as a high school teacher in Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota. Missions which saw her service were St. Leo; New England, Hettinger, North Dakota; Northfield, Rice, Minnesota; Lismore, Nobles, Minnesota; St. Agnes in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota; Gilbertville, Black Hawk, Iowa; Wabasso, Redwood, Minnesota; St. Matthew in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota; Cresco, Howard, Iowa; Good Counsel Academy in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota; and, finally Raleigh, Grant, North Dakota, her last mission. ^[14]

The 1940 Federal Census listed Theodora (Sister Mary Baptist), age 39, as living in Lismore Village, Nobles, Minnesota in 1935. ^[15]

The 1940 Federal Census listed Theodora (Sister Mary Baptist) as living with other Sisters of the Notre Dame in St. Anthony's Convent in Lismore Village, Nobles, Minnesota. She was an instructor at a school. She had completed four years of college. ^[16]

In April 1966, Sister Mary Baptist was at St. Gertrude High School in Raleigh, Grant, North Dakota.

In 1971, Theodora (Sister Mary Baptist) came to the Motherhouse where she served as secretary to the administration for two years. She suffered a stroke in 1973 which necessitated her retirement. ^[17]

Theodora (Sister Mary Baptist) passed away on November 9, 1984 at age 84. She is buried in Good Counsel Hill Cemetery in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota. ^[18]

Sources

1. ↑ Entered by Stephen Fritz, secondhand knowledge, Sep 16, 2012
2. ↑ Leonard J. Flesner - Genealogy data base printout, December 28, 1994 - data found under Theodora Mary Beck
3. ↑ ancestry.com - Minnesota, Births and Christenings Index, 1840-1980 - data found under Beck
4. ↑ FamilySearch.org - United States Census, 1900 - data found under Theodora Beck
5. ↑ Sister Mary Baptist Beck's Autobiography
6. ↑ FamilySearch.org - Minnesota State Census, 1905 - data found under Theodora Mary Beck
7. ↑ FamilySearch.org - United States Census, 1910 - data found under Theodora Beck
8. ↑ Sister Mary Baptist Beck's Autobiography
9. ↑ Sister Mary Baptist Beck's Autobiography
10. ↑ ancestry.com - U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989, Mankato, Minnesota, City Directory, 1919 - data found under Dora M. Beck
11. ↑ FamilySearch.org - United States Census, 1920 - data found under Dora Beck
12. ↑ Sister Mary Baptist Beck's Autobiography
13. ↑ Sister Mary Baptist Beck's Autobiography
14. ↑ School Sisters of the Notre Dame Memorial for Sister Mary Baptist Beck that was passed out at her funeral
15. ↑ FamilySearch.org - United States Census, 1940 - data found under Theordora Beck
16. ↑ FamilySearch.org - United States Census, 1940 - data found under Theordora Beck
17. ↑ School Sisters of the Notre Dame Memorial for Sister Mary Baptist Beck that was passed out at her funeral
18. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5585720/mary-baptist-beck : accessed 20 June 2022), memorial page for Sr Mary Baptist Beck (unknown–9 Nov 1984), Find a Grave Memorial ID 5585720, citing Good Counsel Hill Cemetery, Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, USA ; Maintained by James Radzak (contributor 46484385) .

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