Beatrice Stone, age 87 of Nashville, TN; formerly of Prairie City, SD; passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2020 at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN.

Beatrice (Beckman) Stone, 87, was born December 15, 1932 at her grandmother's home in Glenham, South Dakota.  She grew up on her family ranch near Strool, SD.  As was common for ranch families, she worked hard herding sheep and other ranch activities, even placing shingles on the granary.  For her primary education, she attended a one room school, 1 1/2 miles from her home.  Her older brother would ride his horse to school pulling Beatrice in a wagon behind him.  She loved playing the piano and singing with her sisters.  She went away to Ipswich, South Dakota for high school and boarded with a family there. She then attended Marion College in Marion, IN where she was part of the college choir.  There, she met the love of her life, Willard Stone.  They were married July 26, 1955. They moved to Sturgis, SD where they assisted with a church in Rapid City.  They soon moved to Ipswich where they welcomed their first son, Jonathan.  Two months later they moved to Mandan, ND where she taught at Mandan High School. Her second son, Daniel, joined the family.  Her husband became the pastor of the Bismarck Wesleyan Church and the family moved across the Missouri River to Bismarck.  For the next 30 plus years she was a pastor's wife.  She and Willard pastored churches in Bismarck, ND; Mission, SD; Belle Fourche, SD; and in Avon, SD.  After Willard changed vocations to be a hospital chaplain, they moved to Yankton, SD.  She volunteered at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital and for the local Hospice.  Upon Willard's retirement they moved to Colton, SD to be close to family.  While there, Willard's health required him to move to a nursing home.  Beatrice faithfully drove 35 miles each way to Sioux Falls every day to be with Willard.  She would arrive before breakfast so that she could be the one to feed him three meals a day. They read the Bible out loud to each other and one year they read the Bible cover to cover more than 3 times.  In 2014 they moved to Lebanon, TN to be close to Jonathan and his family.  That November, Willard went home to Heaven.  After Willard's passing, Beatrice attended the Lebanon First Church of the Nazarene, where she found deep, life giving friendships.  She was known as a prayer warrior.  She shared many happy days with her family in TN and blessed them with her deep love and sense of humor.  She was a two time breast cancer survivor.  Though she departed suddenly, God graciously gave her family and friends 24 hours to say goodbye and share their love with her.  She met her Savior, Jesus, face to face, April 30, 2020 at approximately 3:40 pm.

Beatrice was preceded in death by her husband Willard D. Stone, parents Ted and Elva (Savelsburg) Beckman, and brother's Robert and Daniel.

She is survived by her sisters Elva Belle, Anna Marie, Eunice (Richard) and her sister-in-law Carolyn Stone; her sons Jonathan (Cynthia) and Daniel (Pam);  her grandchildren Jared (Ashley), Jenna (Cason), Jordan (Eden), Sarah, Rachel, Isaac, Abigail, Zachary, Benjamin, Natalie (Tyler), Brennan and Mercedes.  She also is survived by her great-grandchildren Travis, Devin, Emma, Edward, Richard, Claidissa, Nicholas, (Andy and Bella).  She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, their families, and beloved friends.  Beatrice loved well and was dearly loved by all.  Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

A Graveside Service will be held at 1:30pm Friday, May 8, 2020 at the Prairie City Cemetery in Prairie City, SD.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date at the First Church of Nazarene 812 N Cumberland St, Lebanon TN 37087.  In lieu of flowers we would request that people give a memorial gift to the First Church of the Nazarene in Lebanon, TN.