Delbert Arlyn Beckstrand
Delbert Arlyn Beckstrand died at his home in Goldendale on Jan. 4, 2010, at the age of 65. He was born to Thelma Alvina (Peterson) and Raymond Emanuel Beckstrand in Bemidji, Minn., Jan. 12, 1944. Del was raised in International Falls, Minn., and though he hadn’t lived there for many years, he enjoyed going back for reunions.
Del spent nine years in the Navy and was stationed in San Diego, Calif. During his military service, he went to Vietnam nine times. After his honorable discharge, Mr. Beckstrand began working for Harvey Aluminum in Torrance, Calif., and it was there that he married Patricia Lee Morris on Oct. 19, 1968. In 1971, Del was asked to transfer to Goldendale, and he spent the next 31 years working at the aluminum plant. Mr. Beckstrand later moved to Spokane, where he was employed by Easyloader, then Wagstaff. While working for Wagstaff, Del travelled all over the world setting up aluminum plants. His work took him to many countries including Russia, China, Egypt, Romania, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Austria, to name a few.
Mr. Beckstrand enjoyed being outdoors where he could hike, fish for walleye, ride horses, and ranch.
Del is survived by his wife Patty of Goldendale; sons Scott Beckstrand of Goldendale, Jeff Beckstrand and his wife Shelley and their three children of Albuquerque, N. M., and Mike Beckstrand and his wife Megan and a baby on the way (who Del called “our little cowboy”), of Moxee; sisters Beverly Raboin and her husband Jerry of Longview, Valray Wolf and her husband Jack of Duluth, Minn., and Marlys Hanson and her husband Virgil of Bemidji, Minn. He was preceded in death by his brother Douglas Beckstrand in August of 2009.
A memorial service was held at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Goldendale on Saturday, January 9, at 1 p.m. Columbia Hills Memorial Chapel handled cremation arrangements.
