Virgil E. Beckner of Potlatch died Wednesday, February 10th at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow. He was 88.

Virgil was born April 1, 1921 at Lavina, Montana to John Harold and Lilly Mae Parkin Beckner. The family moved to St. Maries, Idaho where he started school, later moving to the Princeton area to finish grade school, graduating from Potlatch High School. Virgil delivered groceries in the Moscow area while attending blacksmith and welding school. He later went to work in the Oregon shipyards in Portland. While still working in Portland, Virgil and Dorothy Pearl Culton were married May 31, 1942 at her family home on Flannigan Creek north of Viola. From the shipyard, he was called to active duty in the US Army, serving in the South Pacific.

After his discharge from the Army, he went to work for Potlatch Lumber Company driving manhaul, delivering supplies and workers to loggings camps. In 1947 Virgil went to work for the Postal Service in Potlatch as a clerk, later taking a position as Mail Carrier unitl his retirement in 1979. After retirement, he continued working doing seasonal farm work for a short time.

He was active in the VFW and a member of the Moose Lodge of Moscow. Virgil was an early member of the Potlatch Fire Department. He enjoyed camping, traveling, riding motorcycles and 4-wheelers, but most of all spending time with his family and friends.

Surviving are his wife 67 years, Dorothy, at the family home in Potlatch; their sons, Bruce and wife Carole and John and his wife Janet, all of Potlatch. He also leaves 20 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. Virgil was preceded in death by two sons, Larry and Douglas as well as a sister, Jeanne Rosentrater.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 A.M. at Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow.  Rev. Kathy Lee Kramer will officiate and burial with Military Honors will follow at the Rock Creek Cemetery at Potlatch.  A reception will be at the Princeton Community Center afterward.