David E. Beach

David E. “Dave” Beach died Saturday, November 28 at Altru Hospital.   Dave Beach was born in Hutchinson, Minnesota, and moved to the Osgood (now West Fargo), North Dakota region at age three. A 1953 graduate of Fargo Central High School, he attended the University of North Dakota before joining the United States Air Force in 1956, where he served with the 6913th RSM in Bremerhaven, Germany. After honorable discharge from the military in 1961, he completed his University of North Dakota education in accounting and business administration. He was employed by the Ryan Potato Company as an office manager from 1963-1980, then self-employed in property management until his retirement in 1998.   Dave is survived by his wife of 52 years, M. Jean (Morton) Beach, daughter Elizabeth Bryant, son-in-law Michael Bryant, grandsons Thomas and David Bryant (all of St. Louis Park, MN), and daughter Roberta Beach and son-in-law Larry Schroeder (both of St. Paul, MN). Both Dave's children thank him for encouraging and modeling a lifelong love of books and libraries. Dave is also survived by two sisters, Jean Jacobson (Salt Lake City, UT) and Clare Baird (Denver, CO), and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bernard and John Beach.   Dave's interests were multiple, often comprising genealogy, history, and politics: locally, he especially valued his years of service to the Grand Forks City Council (1985-1998), Grand Forks Masonic organizations (ranging from Malta Lodge to the KEM Shrine), Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission, and Wesley United Methodist Church. With avocations for United States/world history and genealogy, he honored and was honored by his memberships in Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of Union Veterans (U.S. Civil War). Since retiring from professional life and public office, he also relished choral singing. Together, Dave and Jean enjoyed many winters in Casa Grande, Arizona.   Visitation will be on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015 from 5 to 7 PM with a Masonic service conducted by the Malta Lodge 131 at 6PM in the Masonic Lodge building, 423 Bruce Ave., Grand Forks. Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015 at 10:30 am in Wesley United Methodist Church, 1600 4th Ave. N in Grand Forks. Interment will be held on a later date at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Instead of flowers, memorials are preferred to the University of North Dakota Chester Fritz Library (Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections) and the Wesley United Methodist Church. Military honors will be provided by the North Dakota Army National Guard funeral honors.