Alta Lovina was the oldest child of Gus and Libbie Beach, born on June 2, 1899, in the Reamsville community. There she lived with her farming family, attended the area school and grew to womanhood.
..It was in this rural area that she was courted by Milo Billings and they were married on Dec. 23, 1916. This young family also farmed in the Reamsville community and it was there that Alta worked beside her husband to make a home and support their 11 children.
..During the Depression years, Milo's health failed and the family moved to Athol. To support their income, Alta took employment in the "sewing room" in Smith Center. Milo died on Oct. 4, 1950.
..Alta's life was lonely without her mate and she became friends with Tony Bencken of the Red Cloud, Neb., community. They were married on Sept. 25, 1954. It was during their life together that Alta entered the Catholic religion and became a member of the Catholic Church of Red Cloud. Tony died in December 1970.
..One of the happiest times of Alta's life was when all of her children were together. She kept in contact with them and visited in their homes. She was a humorous woman and enjoyed joking and this kept her young at heart and interesting to her 16 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
..After Tony's death, Alta resided with her children and mostly with daughters Esther Davis and Ruby Hull. When she no longer could be cared for by her children, she became a resident of Concordia Rest Home. Her last illness was of a short week and she died Oct. 7, 1986, at St. Joseph Hospital in Concordia.
..She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, and seven children: Forrest; twin sons Merle and Verle; twin daughters Vella Fay and Velma Mae; Joe Robert and Billie; sisters Margaret Wagner and Opal Chard and brother Melvin Beach.
..Left to mourn are her children Esther Davis, Smith Center; Arthur Billings and wife Leota, Franklin, Neb.; Frank Billings and wife Pat, Watonga, Okla.; Ruby Jean and husband Kenneth Hull, Concordia; step-children Glen Bencken, Inman, and Alvora Kudnra and Elenor Stueck, both of Red Cloud; brothers Bennie Beach, Stockton, California, Kenneth Beach and wife Alice, Phillipsburg, Gusta Beach and wife Dorothy, Kensington; and sisters Viola Rust of Smith Center, Lillie James of Gaylord, Isa Kienzle and husband John of Agra, and Isla Miller and husband Dores of Hugo, Okla.
..Funeral services were Oct. 10 at Simmons Chapel, Smith Center, with Rev. Dale McCain officiating. Thaine Larson and Betty Smith were the vocalists, with Mildred Robertson the organist.
..Casket bearers were Jerry Crissman, Ralph Naasz, Duke Seems, Jerry St. Clair, Elmer Rust, and Bill Norris. Interment was at Myers Cemetery, Athol.
source: Smith County Pioneer, Oct. 16, 1986