Howard Beebout

Return to Class of 1934

 Howard Beebout05/03/2013
Services for Howard E. Beebout, 96, will be Monday, May 6, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at the Columbia United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends Sunday, May 5th from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton.

Memorials may be made to the Columbia United Methodist Church or the Columbia Fire Department. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.pierschbacherfuneralhome.com.

Howard E Beebout was born at the family farm near Columbia on January 19, 1917, to Tyler and Blanche Agan Beebout. He went to the Columbia School and graduated from Knoxville High School in 1934. Howard then went to Central College in Pella.

On February 14, 1940, he married to Lois Parrish and they were blessed with five children: Harold, Leo, Louise, Donald, and Tim.

Howard loved the farm; he enjoyed the seasons of planting and harvesting. He was very innovative and would always improve his machinery and ways of getting the work done.

He invented one of the first large round balers and held a patent on part of that design and also held a patent on the separating cylinder of a pull-type combine. He won the state-plowing contest and moved on to the national plowing contest.

He also enjoyed sharing the bounty of his fruit and vegetable gardens and was especially fond of raising watermelons.

His wife Lois passed away in 1977. He married Betty Foster and later married Cleo Rafferty.

Howard's deep faith made him a fearless adventurer. He did missionary work all over the world. He traveled to many countries sharing his faith; including going to Nicaragua, Mexico, and Haiti where he delivered a mule from Iowa having to swim the mule the last mile of the trip.

He volunteered many years at the McCurdy School in New Mexico where he met Sallie in 1986, whom he married in June of 1996. They shared many adventures and were together until her death in January of this year.

Howard was always involved with his community. He enjoyed supporting his children in 4-H and other activities and was very active in the Columbia United Methodist Church and the Columbia Fire Department and Community Center.

Howard belonged to the Marion County Cattlemen's Assoc., the Marion County Extension Council, and was an avid conservationist; always caring for the land.

Howard passed away on May 3, 2013. Surviving are his children: Harold (Mary Francis) Beebout of Sperryville, VA, Leo (Gloria) Beebout of Ankeny, Louise (Gene) Narber of Chariton, Donald (Patricia) Beebout of Chariton, and Tim Beebout of Des Moines; 13 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; his brother, Kenneth (Evelyn) Beebout; and many relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois Beebout in 1977; and his wife, Sallie Beebout in 2013. He was also preceded in death by brothers: Carl and Leon Beebout.