Gordon Eugene Beckstrom
November 25, 1926 ~ September 23, 2026
Gordon E. Beckstrom, 99, Sioux Falls, departed his loving family on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at the VA Hospice Cottage in Sioux Falls.
A private family memorial service will be held with Inurnment at the SD Veteran’s Cemetery.
Gordon Eugene Beckstrom was born on November 25, 1926, in Sioux Falls, SD, to parents, Willard and Lillian (Gjovig) Beckstrom. Gordon attended school in Sioux Falls. Gordon, like so many more of the greatest generation, enlisted in the US Navy at age 17. He needed his parents’ signature to do this. He enlisted in February 1944, and after basic training he was assigned to the Battle Ship USS West Virginia. They went immediately into action in the Pacific where they fought the Japanese at the Battle of the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. On Easter Sunday, April 1st, Gordon survived a Kamikaze attack on #2-gun mount. The suicide plane hit to one side, killing 4 and injuring 28. Gordon was handing up munitions from below. The bomb on the suicide plane failed to detonate, saving his life. Gordon was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal (4), American Area Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal (2) and World War II Victory Medal.
Gordon was employed at Fenn’s Dairy and later, many years at Northern States Power. Gordon and his wife Delna, were married on March 17, 1949. Delna and Gordon took many nice trips over the years including Hawaii, Mexico, and Canada. They took many fun camping vacations and also wintered in their snowbird Florida home. Gordon and Delna celebrated almost 73 years of marriage.
Gordon enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family. He took pride in having an excellent green lush lawn and also loved to putter with his flower beds. He loved to socialize with friends and family. Gordon was a devoted husband and father. He raised his children with love.
Gordon had the distinction of living almost to the Century age of 100.
Gordon is survived by his children, Jan Bullock, Longview, TX, Stanley (Carol) Beckstrom, Hartford, SD, Richard (Beverly) Beckstrom, Sioux Falls, SD, and Shawn Jorgensen, CA; Gordon was grandfather to 11 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren; He is also survived by sister-in-law, Sharon Beckstrom.
Gordon was preceded in death by his wife; one infant daughter, Kimberly Rae; one infant granddaughter, Rachel; by siblings, Helen Beckstrom-Smith, Willard Beckstrom, Dolores Beckstrom-Parker-Boyd, Duane Beckstrom and Roger Beckstrom.
“What is IBM stock doing today?” (A favorite question of Gordon’s)
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