Dixie Darlene Beechner Jerden (King), 74, of Mound House, NV, passed away Friday, April 3, 2020. Dixie was born on January 3, 1946, at the home of her parents Richard Sr and Naomi King (Kobbe), in St Joseph, MO. Growing up in St Joseph, she enjoyed time with her family at Big Lake in northwest MO, and in the extreme southeastern part of Nebraska. She was active with her church, Marvin McMurray, as well as with Rainbow Girls. It was at Big Lake that she met her first husband, John (Jack) Beechner. They were married on April 12, 1963. With Jack, she had three children; Jackie, John Jr., and Jay. From 1968 – 1978 the family lived in Trenton, MO. While living in Trenton and St Joseph, she was active with several bowling leagues, and was active with the Elks and Jaycees and held a number of jobs, including bartending, bookkeeping, and preschool assistant teaching, just to name a few. She was also active with coaching her children in their summer softball/baseball teams, as well as serving as a Boy Scout Den Mother and Girl Scout Troop Leader. She also served as a coach for her children's Junior Bowling League.

In 1996, Dixie received her GED. After Jack's death in 1997, she moved to Belton, MO and she began attending classes at Longview Community College. In 1998 she met William (Bill) Jerden, and in 1999 they moved to the Reno, NV area. On June 16, 2000, she and Bill married. They managed apartment complexes and self-storage units in Reno, among other things, before moving to the Doyle, CA community. In Doyle, they enjoyed their retirement with their horses, dogs, cats, and other farm animals as well as family and friends. Bill passed away in September, 2018, and Dixie was truly lost without her soulmate. In January of this year, she suffered a fall, breaking both of her arms. It was while she was convalescing that Jackie moved them to their current home in Mound House, NV. Unfortunately Dixie's health continued to decline, and she went to be with Bill and the others who have preceded her.

Dixie was a stranger to no one. Everyone was accepted to her, and she had many "adopted" children who were friends of her own children. No one ever went hungry or without in her presence. She truly leaves behind many friends, most of whom called her "mom" or "grandma". She even touched the lives of the medical staff who treated her, saying they had the privilege of working with her.

Dixie is preceded in death by her parents Richard and Naomi (Kobbe) King; an older half-brother Richard M. King, and younger brother Larry King; her husbands John (Jack) Beechner, Sr., and William (Bill) Jerden.

Dixie is survived by her daughter Jackie Beechner of Mound House, NV, and her sons John Beechner, Jr of St Joseph, MO and Jay Beechner of Vinton, CA; grandsons Dustin Beechner of St Joseph, MO and Joshua Beechner of Herlong, CA; granddaughters Danyelle Beechner and Shanin Ellsworth (Beechner), both of King City, MO; great-grandsons Noah Wood of King City, MO and Nathen Harvey of Reno, NV; great-granddaughters Alivia Wood and Jozlyn Beechner of King City, MO, and Annabell Beechner of Mapleton, OR. She is also survived by a brother, Richard F. King, Jr, of St Joseph, and 5 sisters: Georgann Martin (Dennis), Clara Masoner (Jimmy), Joyce McCarthy, and Alison Frogge all of St Joseph, MO; and Barbara Epps (Doug) of Omaha, NE. She is also survived by numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces, and cousins. She also has an honorary granddaughter, Morgan Ausmus, of Doyle, CA.

It was Dixie's desire to be cremated, and that wish has been granted. In this unprecedented time of a global pandemic, Celebration of Life services will be postponed until restrictions are lifted. Two Celebrations are being planned; one for loved ones in the Reno, NV area in early August and a second for loved ones in St Joseph, MO over Labor Day weekend.

Family and friends are invited to sign her online guest book at www.FRFH.net .  Also sympathy cards may be sent directly to her daughter, Jackie from this site.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to your local Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans organization, or any organization that goes toward honoring and aiding our nation's veterans.

Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home, 25 Hwy 208 Yerington, Nevada 89447            (775) 463-2911