Laura R.

Vanderbeek

+1

Laura Raquel Vanderbeek, 57, of Atkinson, died at 12:20 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024 at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in O'Neill after a serious illness. 

A visitation and celebration of life service by Latter Day Saints of O'Neill will be held at a later date. 

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Biglin's Mortuary of O'Neill is in charge of arrangements.

Laura was born June 1, 1967, in Atkinson to Arthur and Myrlen (“Pat” Beckwith) Harley, the youngest of seven children. She was very creative and loved playing outside.

She attended rural elementary school at Districts 237 and 35, Atkinson Elementary School and graduated from West Holt High School in May of 1985. Laura was drawn to the fine arts, playing the flute in the school band and finding her talents as a painter and classical artist.

In August of 1986, Laura married Mark Harrison of O'Neill. They attended college in Kearney where she earned a bachelor's degree in secondary English education and graduated with honors. They were blessed with three children Regina, Corrine and Chase.

Laura taught English and Spanish at Beaver Valley in Lebanon, Lexington and Chambers. She was the director of the senior center in Cambridge and later the Atkinson Senior Center. She also taught conflict resolution, worked for the O'Neill food pantry, and most recently served Good Life Counseling and Support in Norfolk as a family support specialist. She worked with families and individuals to improve their lives. 

Before her work as a support specialist, Laura reunited with a former high school friend Mike Vanderbeek, and married him on Aug. 12, 2006. This added three daughters to her family Kendra, Mary and Alyssa.

She loved attending the kids' activities, especially sporting events, music programs and plays. She enjoyed gardening, crafting, collecting gnomes, miniatures and antiques, and having many adventures with her husband Mike.

Laura had a passionate love for Jesus and expressed this in many ways. Laura loved to help and support people of all ages, especially children. She served many callings at her branch of The Latter-Day Saints including Relief Society, Young Women's Group, teaching primary class and serving on the church council. 

She loved organizing and hosting birthdays, baby showers, graduation, and craft parties. She also enjoyed playing games with family and friends and utilized her intelligence to be a fierce opponent in trivia. Laura cherished time with her grandchildren; these special moments consisted of crafting or going on adventures - often going exploring for arrowheads, geodes and rocks.

She was an avid fan of rock and roll. She and her best friend Sonia attended numerous concerts. Her sister Sheryl and brother-in-law Arthur once drove them to Minneapolis so they could attend a Bon Jovi concert. One of her favorite memories was when she went to a Dr. Hook concert, and they were able to take pictures with the band members and hang out with one of them after the show. Laura would often go to Comstock, Nebraska, concerts and added many band names to her roster there. They rocked out to Guns n Roses in Fargo, and saw some other favorites like Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Def Leppard, the Who and Jackel. Laura wanted to make a tee shirt and list all the names of the bands she'd seen from A to Z, but she didn't get to go to a Queen concert, so she didn't have the letter Q. However, Mike had a “concert blanket” made from all her concert tees and she loved it dearly.

Laura is survived by her husband of 18 years Mike Vanderbeek of Atkinson;  two children Regina (Larry) Bourquin of Pittsburg, PA and Chase Harrison (fiancée Bekah Scout) of O'Neill; three stepdaughters Kendra and Alyssa Vanderbeek, both of O'Neill, and Mary Vanderbeek of Norfolk; four grandchildren AshLynn Harrison of Rexburg, ID, Reina Harrison, Lucas and Anze Bourquin of Pittsburg, PA; one step granddaughter Penny Gartner of O'Neill; four siblings Sheryl (Arthur) Mehrhoff of Colombia, MO, Steve (Julie) Harley of Winnetoon, Kathy (Terry) Davis of Atkinson and Karola Wolfe of Spartanburg, SC; one brother-in-law Darryl Schmale of Bellwood, NE; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and her beloved cats Maven and Diabla.

She was preceded in death by her parents Arthur and Myrlen (“Pat” Harley-Wood) Harley; infant daughter Corrine; two sisters Brenda (died in infancy) and Lynn (Harley) Schmale; and her mother-in-law, Mary Vanderbeek.                     

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