William Lester Beekman Jr.

William L. Beekman Jr. passed away in Springdale, Arkansas, on November 22, 2022, at the age of 85. He was born on January 12, 1937, to William Lester and Arleta Beekman in Cylinder, Iowa. Bill was the oldest of three children. After graduating from high school, Bill moved to Des Moines and began working for Look Magazine. Here he met his future wife, Nancy Meline. Together, they had four children: Jeff, Julie, Cindy, and Christopher.

Bill worked sixteen years for Look Magazine, beginning in the stock room and working his way up to manager of Look’s Accounting Department.

In 1971, Bill and Nancy purchased a small motel in Rogers, Arkansas called the Sandman Motel. They ran the motel as a family business. Bill began a construction career by remodeling the motel and building additions to it. Later he built a few spec homes in Rogers. Then Bill started a full-time construction business, building homes in Bella Vista, Arkansas. He continued building them until his retirement.

Bill enjoyed traveling in his RV especially visiting historical sites. Bill was an active member of Bella Vista Baptist Church and later of the Village Bible Evangelical Free Church of Bella Vista.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; daughter, Julie; son, Jeff; and sister, Jayne. He is survived by two children and their spouses, Cynthia (Beekman) and Mark Irwin, and Christopher and Debbie Beekman; nine grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren; his brother Doyle Beekman, his brother-in-law, Joel Smith, two nephews and one niece.