Gale Keith Beesley passed away peacefully on November 18, 2022, in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He was born at home to Bernard and Gladys (Wessel) Beesley on September 11, 1937, in Madison, South Dakota, in the same bedroom in which his father was born.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Frances (Hutchinson) of Klamath Falls; daughters Sandra (Robin) Chester of Bend, Oregon and Becky (John) Berry of Alturas, California; special foreign exchange student/daughter, Renata Della Bernardina of Brazil; brothers Kenneth of Brandon, South Dakota, Ronald (Kay) of Great Falls, Montana; sister Carol Gilbert of Mobridge, South Dakota; 8 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Gale grew up in Madison, South Dakota, where he attended schools. In 1954 he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served until 1958. He returned to South Dakota and worked as a journeyman carpenter throughout the state. In 1963 the family moved to California, where he began a career in law enforcement in the city Fairfield. During that time, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, in 1974. He retired as a Lieutenant in 1979 and moved to Alturas, California. Gale and Fran owned the Essex Motel for many years. He semi-retired and worked at several jobs to keep busy in Alturas, until full retirement in April 2006, when they moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon.
Gale loved traveling, camping, hunting, horseback riding, ATV riding in the back country of Nevada, and visiting family and friends. He was an active member of Hope Lutheran Church in Klamath Falls.
He is preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Penny Beesley, and grandson Keith Primorac.
A memorial service will be held at Hope Lutheran Church, 2314 Homedale Rd, Klamath Falls on December 10, 2022, at 11:00 am, with a gathering following in the fellowship hall, hosted by Hope Lutheran WELCA. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gale’s name to Hope Lutheran Church, Klamath Falls, Oregon.
A private Burial will take place at a later date.