Our loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Kenneth Richard Beals departed this earthly existence the same way he lived (peacefully, humbly and courageously) on June 20, 2002.

His family surrounded him as he returned to his Heavenly Father.

Kenneth was born on January 24, 1922, on the Blue Water Ranch, Weed, N.M.

He was the first born of a set of twin boys. After the birth of seven daughters, the family was overjoyed.

Kenneth's twin brother did not survive and so he became the only brother to 10 sisters.

After graduation from Pima High School, Kenneth entered the Army Air Corps. With his brilliant math skills, he was trained as a navigator and was assigned to a B-17 crew. He and his crew were sent to the European Theatre on June 18, 1944.

While there he flew 52 missions from Italy.

He returned from the war and pursued his life career as an educator, eventually obtaining an master's degree from Arizona State University.

He taught in Pima and Phoenix. While teaching, he worked in the personnel office, participated on the teacher's negotiation team, and coached women,s basketball.

Kenneth was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He served faithfully in a number of church positions, including bishop, stake presidency counselor, patriarch, and temple worker and sealer. Also, he and his wife served an 18-month mission for the church in Palawan, Philippines.

He is survived by his wife, Norma Dell Carter; sisters, Elizabeth Lemmon (Greenly, Colo.), Verona Carter (Cottonwod), Bonnie Degley (Mesa), Cleedith Baker (Thatcher); children, Jack (Kay) Beals, Penny (Jerry) Noble, Anthony (Leslie) Beals, Lomand (Janice) Beals, Linda (Bruce) Lamb, Cara (Jim) Steele, Jan (Brad) Larsen, Richard (Linda) Beals; 36 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Vanada Moore, infant son, Michael, his mother and father, six sisters, one brother and one great-granddaughter, who we are sure were anxiously waiting for him on the other side of the veil.

Funeral services occurred Monday, June 24. He was interred in the Pima Cemetery the same day.

Obit: Eastern Arizona Courier, Safford, Arizona.
Posted: Wednesday, July 10, 2002.