Edward D. Beauclair

edward d. beauclair

Edward Beauclair, a resident of Fargo, ND, since 1993, passed away peacefully at the age of 100 on June 13, 2011, at Villa Maria nursing home with family members praying the rosary at his bedside.

Edward Daniel Beauclair was born April 3, 1911, to Stephen and Ellen (McCrank) Beauclair, on the family homestead near McHenry, ND. The youngest of seven children, he attended New Rockford High School, where he participated in music and sports programs, chess club and debate club. During these years Ed developed a wide range of interests and an intellectual curiosity that spanned a lifetime. He earned a teaching certificate from Valley City State Teachers College. He returned to New Rockford and taught in Lake Washington Township School.

On September 7, 1935, Ed married Florence Settelmeyer and together they raised ten children in New Rockford. Ed lived in service to God, his family, and his community. He clearly recounted this philosophy at the age of 98, when he spoke to his family. "It is very important when you come into a community for the first time, to make your talents and abilities known to the people in authority. That way they will be able to guide you to make the best use of your abilities for the good of the community." Ed worked as a rural letter carrier for 42 years. He always found a way to deliver the mail in blizzards, floods, and hail storms. He believed in labor representation and was a member of the Rural Letter Carriers Association. Their annual family picnic was a source of wonderful memories and friendships. Ed was a devout Catholic who was very active in St. John's parish as a lector, CCD instructor, Knight of Columbus, and member of the parish council. He practiced tithing his entire life. Ed was generous with his time and devoted many hours to volunteering in his community. He served on the cemetery board, the election board, the volunteer fire department, and as president of the St. James Academy school board. He coached football and basketball. He taught by example the importance of active citizenship.

Ed served as a guardian, an ombudsman, and a respected confidant to many. He was polite, ever cheerful, and disciplined. He was a principled parent, grandparent, and devoted husband. He was proud of his children and cheered the loudest at their sports events. He provided a nurturing and intellectually stimulating environment to raise his family who went on to become teachers, therapist, physician, priest, pilot, accountant, pharmacist, and medical records administrator. He worked additional jobs (bookkeeping, beer distribution, and saw sharpening) to support his family. Ed had the Irish wit and laughed the hardest at his own jokes. He loved music especially singing and listening to opera and Irish music. He had a tender heart and cried with the best of them at sad and happy movies. Ed researched family genealogy. As a gifted storyteller, he enjoyed recounting family history. Ed particularly enjoyed fishing walleye out of Canadian lakes and debating the history of Catholicism with anyone who understood the complexities of the subject. He was an avid reader and remained curious all his life.

Florence died in 1991 and Ed moved to Fargo in 1993. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament and later Sts. Anne and Joachim. In his later years, Ed took up quilt making (to carry on his wife's accomplished quilt-making tradition) and donated many to various organizations. He moved to Villa Maria nursing home in 2001, where he lived until his death.

Ed is survived by his children Ellen (Alvin) Krump, Hankinson, ND, Mildred (George) Shears, Cotton, MN, Fr. Stephen, OSB, Richmond, MN, Judy (Fred) Hessinger, Leucadia, CA, Sheila (Ron) Szymankowski, Overland Park, KS, Michael (Deborah), Fort Worth, TX, Therese (Bruce Zanetta) Beauclair, Monterey, CA, John (Sharon), Fargo, ND, daughter-in-law Mary, Stoneham, MA; 17 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Florence, his sons Francis and Raymond; brothers: Louis, Carroll, Raymond, and John; sisters: Marcella Allmaras and Patricia Penderitsch, and 4 infant grandchildren.

Ed's family would like to thank the staff who cared for him at Villa Maria as well as his spiritual caregivers.

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  1. Seattle WAThank you so much for all of the work you did on the family history, Uncle Eddy, I have always appreciated it knowing about our French Canadian and French heritage, not to mention the important Irish connection. Your quilts will forever remind me of you and Aunt Florence. Rest in peace, dear uncle.

  2. Helendale CADear Beauclair family,
    Our hearts, thots and prayers are with your family. Leonard knew most of you and he and I went to high school with Judy. Leonard’s mom Myrtle was a good friend to Ed before she passed on a couple years ago. I remember when he came to California and visited with the Dyrness’. We had so much fun. He was a wonderful man and lived a good life. You were lucky to have him for so long. All our love and prayers.

  3. Boise IdahoWhat a wonderful life your father lived. In the 1950’s my dad Ted
    Cannon was very ill and unable to work. Our family had no form of income and you dad would bring us over a $20 bill now and then. What a wonderful thing for him to do when he had a large family to care for of his own. I will never forget you as great neighbors. Ardis Cannon Mills

  4. Bemidji MN
    Dear Beauclair Family,
    My condolences in the passing of your Dad. He was such a nice man as was your Mother. Ed was our mailman from days on the farm, now nearly 70 years ago. I am so sorry I am going to miss attending the service and seeing you. Judy, Sheila, Michael – fun memories. And John – coming to our house and asking Mom if you could take a nap on the sofa:)) My husband and I are retired, and we have one daughter in Bismarck (and one granddaughter:))
    My special thoughts to you. I am sending a memorial to the Cemetery Association.

    Joelyn

  5. To all my cousins and their families.
    I send you all hugs as you come together to celebrate your father’s life. And what a life it was! Uncle Eddie had a great sense of humor and I related to the obituary mentioning his laughing at his own jokes. What I remember was that he laughed so hard that he cried and everyone around him did the same. With his jokes and story telling, he enriched your family (and ours) and makes us all proud to be Beauclairs. I send all of you my love with hugs from Peggy

  6. Therese, John and family,
    I remember visiting with your dad when he delivered mail to our rural home. He was always happy and loved to visit. His faith was so very important to him.
    God bless you and your family during this time. Know that your dad is singing with the angels in heaven.
    Therese and John, my family has fond memories of our time in high school together. And my boys still talk of John as being their favorite “Doc”
    Bernadette, Allen, Benjamin and Adam Whetham

  7. Wahpeton, ND
    58075 Dear Alvin and Ellen Krump and the whole Beauclair Family—–Sorry for your loss but heaven has gained another beautiful angel. His faith was his life—-thats more than wonderful and living to be 100—wow! Cherish and enjoy all the memories, they last forever—-there must be tons!—–Sending my sympathy and thinking of you in the days ahead——let him be your guardian angel—-bless you all—-
    Carol


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