Cora Beatrice "Bea" Farr

Cora Beatrice “Bea” Farr was born December 5, 1924, the seventh of eight children, to Roy Beckwith and Cora Etta (Grimm) Allen in McDonough County. He father delivered her at home because a doctor couldn’t get there until the following day.

Because Roy worked for local land owners, the family moved six times before settling east of Table Grove where Bea started second grade in a nearby country school and she continued at the Table Grove High School, graduating in 1942. She enjoyed her memories of walking to school with the neighbor kids, telling many family about her daily four mile walk to finish high school.

Other memories that she often spoke about was her father working for a dollar a day and her mother stretching the paycheck to feed and clothe the large family. She once asked her mother why they didn’t have things other kids had and her mother replied: We may not be rich, but we have each other.

After high school Bea went to work at Camp Ellis during World War II and for the Illinois National Guard after the war.

Bea married Ralph D. Farr on December 1, 1946 and they eventually moved to the family farm north of Table Grove, where they farmed for over 67 years. Six years after marrying, Kathy Sue was born and three years later Dan Alan joined the family. Besides working with Ralph in the fields, Bea taught Sunday school, was a 4-H leader, belonged to the Fulton County Women’s Farm Bureau, bowled on three different bowling leagues, and had time to attend her children’s school activities.

Ralph died February 10, 2014 and Bea continued living on (and running) the farm until her passing one day before her 99th birthday, December 4, 2023. Bea was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her siblings (Beulah, Burley, Bernita, Bayne, Bernice, Bernard, and Bill and in-laws), and many, many friends.

She is survived by her daughter Kathy (Randy) Stenerson of Hardin, Montana, her son Dan Farr of Table Grove, her granddaughters Amber (Matt) Link of Hardin, Montana, Jobeth (Terry) Borne of Chehalis, Washington, her great-granddaughters Anna Katherine Link, Evelyn Anne Borne, and Lillian Sue Borne, and many nieces and nephews that stretch four generations.

Services will be held at 1:00 pm Friday, December 8th at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria, Illinois. Pastor Mike Ulmer will officiate. Interment will be in the Harris Cemetery in Table Grove, Illinois. Memorials in Bea’s memory may be given to the Table Grove Fire and Rescue Squad or The Big Horn County Museum, 1103 3rd St. E, Hardin, Montana 59034.