Raymond Dean Beauchman, age 65, passed away January 10, 2011 at Billings Clinic after a long illness. Dean was the youngest child born to Ernest and Lucille Day Beauchman in Wolf Point on March 4, 1945 (March 4th–the only day of the year that gives a command).
Dean attended high school in Wolf Point. He was starter in basketball and on the football team. He graduated from Wolf Point High School in 1963. He continued his education at Northern Montana College. He received an AA in Electronic Technology in 1965 with honors.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in combat in the Viet Nam War. He was wounded and received a Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster, a Viet Nam Campaign Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, a Combat Infantryman Badge and a Viet Nam Service Medal with Bronze Service Star. He was honorably discharged in 1967 and returned home.
He worked for a year for Hughs Aircraft in Los Angeles and then recruited to work for the Xerox Corporation, retiring in 1987. He again moved home and worked at the Silver Wolf Casino until his recent retirement there.
Dean liked to bowl and play pool. Dean and his brother were first Indian Pool league champs in Billings back in the day and was one of the original members on the Viagra team of the Wolf Point Pool league. He loved to watch sports and always supported Wolf Point High School events, especially his nephew, Jordie, playing ball. He especially enjoyed attending the Wild Horse Stampede in Wolf Point.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Lucille; his sisters, Florence and Darlene; and his brother, Ernest Jr.
Dean is survived by his children, Robert, Mary, and Tobianne of South Dakota; his grandchildren, Darcy, Schuyler, Xaina and Zollie, and a great grandchild Alayah; his sisters, Joyce (Fred) McGeshick, Roberta Archdale and Mary Fullerton all of Wolf Point; his brothers Luke Beauchman and Pat Beauchman of Wolf Point; and auntie, Vina LaFloe of Wolf Point. He also has many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and many lifelong friends who all loved him dearly.
A wake will be held Tuesday, January 11 at the Wolf Point Community Hall with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. His funeral service will be Wednesday, January 12 at 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Wolf Point. Interment will military honors will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Wolf Point.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.stevensonandsons.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.