Obituaries

OBITUARIES Information for the obituaries and funeral notices below was supplied to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Advertising Department by funeral homes. For more information including cost and deadlines contact the advertising department at (501) 378-3889.

BELLA VISTA — Melinda Jean Becker was welcomed into Heaven the morning of Saturday, August 25th at the Maples at HarBer Meadows in Springdale, Ark.

Our Mother, Melinda had suffered for years with serious mental illness, & recently great physical pain but we believe her passing to be quick and peaceful for which we are grateful.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Twila & Frank Reeser, her brother Frankie Reeser as well as an unborn child.

She is survived in death by her husband; John Becker Jr., her Children Joanna & her husband David Tripp, Philip & his wife Mindy Becker, Rachel & her husband Micheal Rivers, her siblings Darrell Reeser, Annette Crow, her grandchildren Carmen Clayton, Lily Becker, Jotham Becker, Corban Tripp, Atalia Tripp, Elora Tripp, Samantha Rivers, Mackenzie Rivers as well as nieces & nephews.

Melinda was born in Princeton, Illinois, & Graduated from College of the Ozarks with a BS in Psychology. She was married for almost 40 years.

Our Mother was a sweet, thoughtful, creative, intelligent person, committed & Loving wife. She never failed to forgive & make sure we knew we were loved. Most of all she was an “all in” Christ follower. She was an avid journaler & even ‘til her final day she was reading & studying God’s Word. She was faithful until the end in truth, her true beginning in Heaven with her Lord.

Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Godly ones.”

Acts 16:31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ & you will be Saved.”

Arrangements by Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th, Rogers. Online condolences to www.bentoncountyfuneralhome.com.

PRAIRIE GROVE — Ruth Dial, 90, a resident of Prairie Grove, passed away Friday, August 24, 2018 in Fayetteville. She was born January 8, 1928 in Altus, Oklahoma, the daughter of Walter and Maude (Grundy) Gentry.

Ruth was a Hairdresser for over sixty years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Prairie Grove for over forty years. She was a kind and giving person and will be greatly missed “OUR LOSS AND HEAVENS GAIN.”

She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-two years, Elton Dial and nineteen brothers and sisters.

Survivors include her three sons, David L. Dial and wife Jeannie, of Texas, Danny C. Dial and wife Teresa of Arkansas and Matthew Dial of Arkansas; one daughter, Melissa Anne Fox and husband David of Virginia; one sister, Chris Conrad; eight grandchildren, Misty Potter, Diana Roy, Christopher Dial, Cassandra Dial, Hannah Dial, David Lee Dial, Heather Hendricks, Alyssa Goodhart; eleven great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Monday, at the Luginbuel Chapel from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Funeral Service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 28th, 2018, at the First Baptist Church in Prairie Grove. Burial will be in the Prairie Grove Cemetery. No graveside service will be held at the cemetery.

Online guest book, www. luginbuel.com.

ROGERS — Vaclav K. Michalek, 95, of Rogers passed away August 25, 2018 in Bentonville. Vaclav Michalek lived a long fantastic life. He was born May 6, 1923 in Bela Pod Bezdem, Czech Republic, the son of Vaclav Michalek and Maria Michalek. His journey took him from his home country of the Czech Republic to Germany during the war, where he was forced labor. After the war, he went home to Czechoslovakia, only to escape to Germany, the night before an election that voted in the communist candidate. That decision caused him to be a displaced person, and he was shuffled, with many other people to Italy. After 18 months in an Italian DP camp, he made the decision to immigrate to Australia. He lived there 7 years and worked for an auto manufacturer and a large ranch in the northern territory. During this time, he learned to fly and became part of the Royal Air Force. In the late 50s he came to the United States where he found work in Chicago with an electrical company. He became a citizen, met his wife, Nancy on a blind date, and eventually had a daughter. The three of them lived in Illinois until he retired to Rogers, Arkansas in 1988. Val always worked on the yard and loved building garden walls and planters, out of native stone. In 2010, he was honored by his hometown in the Czech Republic and given the key to the city, at a ceremony that he attended. Anyone, who knew and visited my father was shown the key and heard the story of that event.

Val or Jim as many of his friends called him will be dearly missed, not only by his family but friends and everyone that knew him. He was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Rogers, a generous person, and a great storyteller. Through all the trials and tribulations, he experienced, throughout his life, he never lost his faith or sense of humor.

Cheerio dad, we will miss you!

He is preceded in death by his wife Nancy Mae Michalek and two siblings Joseph Michalek and Ida Trojan.

He is survived by his daughter Maria Akehurst and husband Jon of Rogers; two grandchildren; Clayton and Hannah.

Visitation will be Thursday, August 30, 2018, from 9 to 10 a.m. and a funeral mass following at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Private interment at St. Vincent Cemetery, Avoca.

Arrangements by Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th, Rogers. Online condolences to www.bentoncountyfuneralhome.com.

ROYAL — Our beloved Margie Roselle Clark went to be with her Heavenly Father on Aug. 25, 2018 in Hot Springs, Ark. Born May 1, 1935 in Booneville, Ark., to Servie and Rosie O’Neal. Margie was preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, Donald J. Clark; her mother and father; 3 sisters; and 2 brothers.

She was survived in life by her brother, Grady O’Neal; her three daughters, Terri Slavens and husband, Rocky of Fayetteville, Donna Clark of Fayetteville and Annette Brickell and husband, Randy of Royal; her son, Robert J. Clark of Fayetteville; her grandchildren, Shannon Hughes and husband, Mark, Joe McKnight, Jennifer Teague and husband, Jason, Logan Slavens and wife, Misty, Christopher Clark, Beau Brickell and wife, Tonya, Scott Brickell and wife, Tayler, Cody Brickell and wife, Shelli; great-grandchildren, Sabrina and Austin Hughes, Delaney and Emmy Teauge, Olivia Slavens, Kingsley, Espynn and Tatum Brickell, Tori Bennett (known as “Susie” to family and friends); and she also leaves behind her faithful K9 companion, “COCO”.

Margie was loved deeply and will be greatly missed.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at Beard’s Chapel.

Funeral services will be 12 p.m. Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at Beard’s Chapel. Interment will follow in Fairview Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Condolences at www. beardsfuneralchapel.com.

SPRINGDALE — Sandra A. Swaims, 62, of Springdale, Arkansas died Friday, August 24, 2018 at her home.

She was born on August 15, 1956 in Waynesville, Missouri, a daughter of Donald and Rosemary Brown.

She will be remembered by her husband Marvin Swaims and family.

Visitation will be held 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home in Springdale. www.backstrom-pyeatte.com.