Harold Howard Beaham, known to everyone as Hal, passed away peacefully just shy of 96 years young with his daughter Stephanie at his side on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026, at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Saint Petersburg, FL.
Hal was born in Stillwater, MN on March 3rd, 1930, to Howard E. and Irma L. Beaham and was an only child. His father was a Master Sergeant in the US Air Force and was constantly on the move; therefore, Hal spent his teenage years in multiple schools, finally graduating in 1948 from the Narimasu Tokyo American High School in Japan, where his father was stationed with the occupying forces after World War II. He spent an additional year at the school to play sports because there was nothing else for him to do in Japan at the time. He went on to serve 4 years in the US Air Force, spending 2 of those years stationed at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, AK, where he often flew in a B-29 to the North Pole for weather monitoring missions, and 2 years at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, ILL.
Hal met Sally, the love of his life, in 1955 while she was working as a nurse in Los Angeles, CA. They were married at the Malibu Presbyterian Church in Malibu, CA in March of 1956 and would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this year.
Hal dreamed of tap dancing like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, but his true passion was golf, hitting 4 hole-in-ones and regularly playing until he was almost 92. He also had a love for art, cars, hunting, and fishing, and most of all, for spending time with family and friends, which kept him smiling. He was always able to make others laugh with his wonderful humor and quick wit, and was known for his honesty, integrity and intellect, and his readiness to help others.
Hal could do almost anything, and was amongst other things, a car salesman, a professional photographer, and a hobby painter, poet, writer, and inventor. He co-founded the Direct Messenger Service courier business with a best friend in Los Angeles around 1960. After being invited to the Lake Quivira, KS ”Member Guest“ golf tournament by a close friend that had moved there from California, Hal and Sally decided to also move to Lake Quivira, where they arrived in 1967 with their 2-year-old son Christopher (Chris). Chris’ sister Stephanie was born in 1968 and the family was complete. Hal continued his Direct Messenger Service business in Kansas City, MO, starting with 3 employees in 1967, and served the greater metropolitan area and beyond with more than 30 employees until his retirement in 1990.
Hal’s desire to play golf year-round was not possible in Kansas, so he and Sally decided to move to Belleair, FL, where Sally’s brother Bob and his family resided. Hal and Sally were members of the Belleair Country Club for 30 years, where Hal played with his family, relatives, and his new friends, which he regularly met on Thursdays for lunch after putting his golf clubs back into the bag a final time in 2022. Hal also loved fishing in the Intracostal Waterway and in the Gulf of Mexico with his close friend John G., who preceded him in death in 2013.
Most recently Hal entertained his great-granddaughter Lucy, when she was visiting from Switzerland with his granddaughter Jennifer and her husband Dave.
He was loved by all that knew him, will be sincerely missed, and will never be forgotten. Rest in peace.
Hal was preceded in death by his parents Howard E. and Irma L. Beaham, and is survived by his wife Sally J. Beaham of Largo, FL, his two children Christopher (Chris) H. Beaham (with Jekaterina) of Zufikon, Switzerland and Stephanie S. Mann (with Phillip) of Lake Quivira, KS, his granddaughter Jennifer N. Beaham (with Dave) of Wallisellen, Switzerland, and his great-granddaughter Lucy S. Beaham of Wallisellen, Switzerland.
A special thanks to Hal’s niece Mila, for graciously helping to support the entire Beaham family during the last 12 months and on many other occasions, and another special thanks to Hal’s niece Rebecca (Becky) for traveling from Shawnee, KS to Largo, FL to help support Hal and the family during his final weeks. We are eternally grateful to both of you! Our family would also like to thank the caregivers and staff at Regal Palms and Palm Gardens in Largo and St. Anthony’s hospital in St. Petersburg.
No services will be held, but memorial donations may be made to Suncoast Hospice Foundation, where Sally happily volunteered for more than 30 years. Please send your check noted, “In memory of Harold Beaham”, to:
Suncoast Hospice Foundation
2675 Tampa Rd
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
To make an online donation, please use this link. Thank you in advance; your contribution is greatly appreciated.
3 Responses
I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Hal Beaham a few years ago. Inspite of some of his health problems he was quick wit & and funny. While visiting his beautiful wife wanted to have lunch where they resided & his comeback was I want chicken MvNuggets from McDonalds I had to laugh but that was Hal’s favorite. His mood was always pleasant & I was in great hopes I could visit with him one more time but God thought he needed to rest so I missed that visit but he is resting & will be missed but not forgotten.
God Bless the loved ones he left behind🙏
So sorry to hear this news. I have many happy and funny memories of both Hal And Sally.
Hal was a wonderful man. Sally I take care of yourself. Hugs Jeanie
My goodness. That is so sad.
We have been friends for half a century. I loved playing golf with Hal, or sharing a laugh or a story with him anywhere. At good old Lake Quivira or in Florida, where he and his wonderful wife Sally were always gracious hosts. Hal Beaham was a tall, strong, honest‑to‑the‑core man, full of wisdom, determination, and a quick, effortless sense of humor.
The first time we finished 18 holes together, it cost me ten dollars. We had about the same handicap, but he chipped with a 6‑iron and practically invented the long‑handled putter. I tried that too, but it never worked for me. And if my memory still serves me, our last outing cost me fifteen. Inflation, you know.
I will miss him deeply. A friend like Hal doesn’t disappear from your life. He stays in your heart, in the stories, in the memories that keep resurfacing. His loss leaves a real emptiness.
Farewell and rest in peace, dear old friend. My deepest condolences to Sally, Chris, Stephanie, and the entire family.
Werner