Early Life

Charles Nelson Beck was born in January 31, 1923 [1]. Born and raised in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, he was surrounded by the beauty of Otter Tail county. His parents were Herman and Nellie Beck. Beck was the middle child to his older brother Linwood and younger sister Florence. His father gave him an appreciation for working with his hands as a cabinet maker [1]. From a young age, he had a knack for drawing, and exchanged drawings of cowboys and Indians with his classmates [1]. He attended Fergus Falls High, and while the school did not have art classes, he honed his skills by drawing for the yearbook and paper. He even designed the school’s mascot Otto the Otter. He was involved in athletics in high school, including football, which allowed him to meet Jake Christiansen, who encouraged him to attend Concordia. Despite not considering college before, after meeting with a Concordia recruiter, Beck enrolled in Concordia College in the fall of 1941. 

1. Sharpe, "Charles Beck : The Nature of an Artist"