Charles M. Beals

Charles Melvin Beals was born at home in Blind Lake, Minnesota on December 7th, 1937. He was raised on a small dairy farm in rural Minnesota, near Pine River, the youngest of five children. While still young, Chuck kept the farm running after his older brothers left home and his father sustained a back injury. After high school, he moved to Minneapolis.

He and Sandra Peterson were married June 14, 1958. They welcomed son Alan in 1960 and son Douglas in 1961. In 1963, the Beals moved to Yakima, WA. Chuck got a job painting and maintaining equipment and there—with the addition of son Paul born in 1967—they raised their three boys. Chuck spent most of his career employed at El Paso Natural Gas and also was a backhoe operator for Northwest Natural Gas. He always found time for church, his family and helping others.

In 2011, Chuck and Sandy moved to the Salem area to be near their sons, daughters-in-law, and grandkids. Chuck enjoyed retirement and continued to bless people with practical helps, cookie deliveries , and most importantly, encouragement and love. Chuck and Sandy were married for 64 years.

On October 30, 2022, Chuck went home to be with Jesus after dealing with liver cancer for several months. He is survived by his sister Ethel Bowan of Minneapolis, MN, wife Sandra; sons Alan (Shari) Beals, Doug (Larissa) Beals, and Paul (Jodi) Beals; grandchildren Mackenzie Beals, Alex (Kenny) Engelking, Anderson (Kaitlyn) Beals, Madison Beals and Annika (James) Nelson; great-grandchildren Silas, Shepherd and Rivka Engelking and Calvin Beals.. A memorial service will be held on November 7th at Virgil T. Golden Funeral Services in Salem, OR at 3:00 pm.