Beth A. Hickman

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
BETH A. HICKMAN

BORN
February 2, 1931
Quimby, Iowa

PASSED AWAY
June 1, 2015
Sheldon, Iowa

MEMORIAL SERVICE
11:00 A.M. Saturday, June 6, 2015
United Methodist Church; Sheldon, Iowa
Rev. Kevin Gingerich Officiating

VISITATION SERVICES
Thursday, June 4, 2015 after 3 P.M.
Family present from 6 to 8 P.M. Thursday

SPECIAL MUSIC
Sung By: Wil George and Tricia Meendering

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN
The Old Rugged Cross
Organist: Barb Burns

HONORARY CASKET BEARERS
Grandchildren
D.J. Vortherms Sam Hickman
Max Hickman Monte Hickman
Leslie Vortherms Oliver Hickman
Noah Hickman Jesse Hickman
Hannah Hickman

FINAL RESTING
Family graveside services 10:30 A.M. Saturday,
June 6, 2015 East Lawn Cemetery; Sheldon, Iowa

After todays service relatives and friends are invited to
join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements under the care of the
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home; Sheldon, Iowa

BETH A. HICKMAN

Beth Arlene Hickman, 84 passed away on June 1, 2015 at her home in Sheldon, Iowa. She was born on February 2, 1931 in Quimby, Iowa to Clarence and Nola (Hunter) Pinkerton.
Beth grew up in Quimby, Iowa. She graduated from Quimby High School in 1949. After high school she attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion South Dakota, then the Nebraska State Teachers College in Wayne, Nebraska and finally Saint Josephs Mercy School of Medical Technology in Sioux City, Iowa where she received a degree in Medical Technology. While she was in school polio had reached epidemic status. Proportionally, Sioux City was hit harder by the crippling disease than anywhere else in the country. Beth worked long hours in the hospital collecting samples that were used by Dr. Jonas Salk in his research to develop the Polio vaccine. She subsequently worked as a Medical Technologist in hospitals in Kansas, Missouri, Chicago and several years at the Sheldon Community Hospital. After meeting the love of her life on a blind date Beth married Richard Frank Hickman on November 7, 1954 in Quimby, IA. Following his graduation from Optometry School they moved to Sheldon, Iowa where they made their home and raised their three children Kimberly, Timothy and King. They were happily married for 50 years.
Beth was a member of the Sheldon United Methodist Church, PEO and the Red Hat Society and served on the Sheldon Recreation Board. She enjoyed traveling, camping, golfing, sewing, gardening and playing bridge having been a member of two different Bridge Clubs for over 50 years with dear friends who still love and support each other through thick and thin.
Beth was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; her parents, Clarence and Nola Pinkerton and her sister, Beverly Williams as well as her husbands parents, Jesse and Lonelle Hickman and a brother-in-law, Fred Knauer.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Kimberly (Dan) Vortherms of Derby, Kansas and their children, Dominick and Leslie; son, Timothy (Cindy) Hickman of Orange City, Iowa and their sons, Samuel, Max and Monte; son, King (Kecia) Hickman of Sheldon, Iowa and their children, Oliver, Hannah, Noah and Jesse. Also one great-granddaughter, Chloe Vortherms as well as a sister-in-law, Jo Knauer of Minneapolis, MN; a brother-in-law, Wes Williams of Smithville, TX and several nieces and nephews and other relatives.