Eric Beckham

Eric "Rick" Marvin Beckham, 63, passed away in ��������Provo on April 15, 2015, surrounded by his family, from complications of a lifelong battle with diabetes. Rick was born in Provo September 12, 1951, the son of Ray and Ida Lee Beckham. He attended the BYU Laboratory School from kindergarten through his junior year of high school, when the school was closed. He then attended Provo High School for his senior year, graduating in 1969. He attended BYU for three years and later graduated with a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Phoenix. Rick was intrigued with early computers. As a high school student, he volunteered after school at DHI Computing. This was during the time of IBM's "punched cards" and huge mainframe computers-long before the early "personal computers." He began as a "gopher" but became a part-time employee during high school and college and a fulltime employee after college. He helped pioneer a new DHI software program for hospitals in Wassau, Wisconsin Rick served as an LDS missionary in Finland beginning in October, 1970. He returned to BYU in 1973 and met Vicki Beal, from Merced, California, his future wife, who was an education major at BYU. They were married June 18, 1974 in the Cardston, Alberta, Temple, where his father was serving as mission president. In 1979, Rick and his family moved to Merced, California, where, with his father-in-law, Steve Beal, he founded one of the early solar energy companies. He then went back to his technology roots and joined Dentomatics, a firm specializing in computer billing systems for dentists, and then moved to Systematics--a large programming firm. He founded a magazine called Beckham's Freeway Guide that published a series of travel guides to help travelers on I-15 from Salt Lake City to San Diego. He also worked with the U.S. Census Bureau and in advertising and marketing. He finished his career as a public relations specialist at Merced College. Rick has led an interesting life. He never let his Diabetes stop him from moving at full speed. He was honored in 2002 by the American Diabetes Association for 50 active years as a diabetic. As a high school student he worked in the summers on his cousins' cattle ranch in Arizona. Rick played many sports as a child, and, later, as an adult, he coached youth baseball and basketball teams and became a basketball referee in California. Along the way, he and his friends in Provo organized the PPGA (Provo Petunia Golf Association) and held an annual tournament for many years. Rick was also interested in music. His mother taught him to play the piano, and he played the trombone in his high school orchestras. He later became 1st chair trombone in the Merced Symphony Orchestra, and on several occasions was the featured soloist. He also founded and directed the three-day "Music of Merced" Festival for five years, bringing in musical groups from the western states for a series of concerts and performances to help raise money for the arts in Merced and to restore the Historic Merced Theatre. Rick designed and helped build their "dream home" in Merced more than 20 years ago. Active in the LDS Church, he served as a scoutmaster and youth leader, priesthood leader, Sunday school teacher and pianist. He was a popular early-morning seminary teacher. His students loved him because of his teaching abilities, positive attitude, and pranks and antics. His children talk about his great sense of humor, telling jokes, April Fool's Day pranks, helping them with their homework, coaching their sports teams, taking them to school activities, and family vacations. He and Vicki enjoyed travelling to new places, including Europe and Africa. His life was centered around his family, church, and music. Vicki passed away June 23, 2010, and is buried in the American Fork cemetery near her parents. Rick moved back to Provo at that time and has lived in the area since. Rick was preceded in death by his wife, Vicki Lyne Beal, and his mother, Ida Lee Beckham. He is survived by his father, Ray Beckham, and stepmother, Janette Hales Beckham, and by his four children: Justin Beckham (Sarah Wilson), Iringa, Tanzania; Lance Beckham (Alisha Akins), Spanish Fork; Cameron Beckham (Stephanie Olson), Layton; and Andria Beckham Lewis (Matt Lewis), Springville. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Aidan, Rylee, Juma, Tristan, Irelyn, Amelia, Abigail, Cole, and Mason, with a tenth (a granddaughter) scheduled to arrive in May. Four siblings also survive him: Raymond Beckham, Jr. (Elaine Tyler), St. George; Randy Beckham (Vicki Woolf), Sandy; Renae Beckham Willes (David), Orem; and Raleen Beckham Wahlin (Rick), Keller, Texas. Funeral services will be held at the Sundberg Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State Street in Orem at 2:00 pm today, Friday, April 17. A visitation will be held at the mortuary prior to the funeral from 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm. Burial will be in the American Fork Cemetery.

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