Miriam Banta

Miriam (Beckmann) Banta was born in the parsonage of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Albion, NE in April of 1939. Her father, Reverend John Beckmann baptized her in April of 1939 and she was confirmed by her father in May of 1953. She graduated from the Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, CO in June of 1961 with a B.A. in Education. She majored in English and minored in French and Library Science. She was active in the Lutheran Student Association and Human Rights Association on campus. She did graduate work at University of Wyoming, University of Northern Colorado-Greeley and University of Denver. She also did graduate work at Universities of Missouri-Kansas City, Wisconsin State – River falls and Oshkosh, Utah-Salt Lake City.
Miriam taught English at Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas and at Sturgeon Bay High School in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. She worked for the Cooperative Educational Service Agency (C.E.S.A.#9) in developmental and remedial reading in four elementary schools in the Appleton, Wisconsin area as part of the innovative Title III project with a Diagnostic Mobile Lab unit. In August of 1970, she was hired as a Reading/Language Arts Coordinator for the Cheyenne school district. She married retired Air Force Lt. Colonel, Frank Banta, in August of 1974. She joined the faculty at Central High School as an English/Reading teacher and continued teaching until her retirement in June of 1998. Her husband, Frank, died in April of 1984. Miriam completed 34 years of teaching in which 27 were at LCSD#1.
She was a member of CTEA, WEA, and NEA and Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary sorority for women educators. She served as courtesy chairperson, calling committee chairperson, scholarship committee assistant and producing the association directory for Laramie County Retired Educators Association. She was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. She served on the Fellowship Committee, participated in CIHN, Naomi Circle and coordinated programs for Fifty Plus.
Miriam enjoyed an active recreational life with her husband, Frank. Golfing and Skiing were favorite interests. They were community oriented people. She enjoyed travel, concerts, the Cheyenne Symphony, Broadway shows, bowling and many holiday celebrations with her family and friends. She played piano and clarinet. Miriam’s generosity to her family, friends, their children, charities and organizations will be remembered.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Reverend John and Helen Beckmann, her husband Frank, her sisters Elizabeth Rounds, Rhoda Cramer, Rosemary Mickelson and brother John Beckmann Jr. Also she was preceded in death by two nephews. She is survived by her niece Miriam (Paul) Oliver of Cheyenne, niece Sara (Russell) Allen of Arizona, Frank Banta Jr. (Cynthia) of Colorado, numerous nephews (1 godchild) and nieces and their children. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church or a favorite charity of your own.
Life Commemoration Services
Friday 2:00pm at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
Cremation has taken place at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens.