Norman James Beukelman

Norman James Beukelman Norman James Beukelman November 29, 1929 - April 24, 2009 SALEM - Norman Beukelman went home to be with the Lord on April 24, 2009 at the age of 79. He was born in Harrison, South Dakota, on November 29, 1929 to Harold and Egberdena Beukelman. The family left the Dakota's during the Dust Bowl and eventually moved to Lynden, Wash. Norm was a member of the football team at Lynden High School and was an accomplished trombonist. He graduated in 1948 and met his future wife, Kathleen Van de Kamp, at school that same year. They were married in 1950 where they started their first dairy farm in Lynden and had another in Everson, Wash. In 1962, they moved to Caldwell, Idaho for health reasons and farmed sugar beets, alfalfa seed and potatoes. He then went into Real Estate sales where he concentrated on farms and ranches. The family moved to Yakima, Wash. for housing sales and then settled in the Portland, Oregon area. Norm worked for the Portland Development Commission as the real estate buyer for them and was instrumental in acquiring the land for the present day Legacy Emanuel Hospital. He then started his own business in window coverings installation, eventually moving into residential and commercial sales as well. His reputation as an honest man followed him wherever he went and his customers did the same. Norm and Kathleen worked side-by-side for 50 of their 58 years of marriage. Norm loved fishing, especially for salmon on the Columbia River. He and Kathleen loved RV'ing and Norm's favorite was his 35' Pace Arrow which he thoroughly enjoyed driving. He also enjoyed nothing more than getting together for family occasions and having all the children, grand children, and great grand children together for a loud and raucous good time. Norman is survived by his wife of 58 years, Kathleen D. Beukelman; brother, Marvin (Ida) Beukelman of Holland, Mich.; sons, James (Kathy) of Salem, Charles (Deborah) of Redmond, Richard (JoAnne) of Lake Oswego, Dean (Shawnda) of La Center, Wash., and Paul (Vickie) of Redmond; 16 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 2 at Faith Assembly in Lacey, Wash. for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith Harvest Helpers, P.O. Box 14672, Tumwater, Wash., 98511.