Dean Harder Beyer expended the last of his Nine Lives. He lived an exciting and exemplary life. This wonderful man was born on June 28th, 1940, in Glen Cove New York to Harry and Elizabeth Beyer. He transitioned with gentleness and peace from Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 81 on February 23, 2022, with his family by his side.
Dean had a remarkable life, having the opportunity to live in Hong Kong from the age of 12-16 while his father was an airline pilot stationed there. Later he moved to Soda Springs, CA where he graduated from Tahoe-Truckee High School. After graduation, he became a Naval Aviation Cadet, became an officer and Naval fighter pilot during the Viet Nam War.
The first of his nine lives were used when he had to eject from his fighter jet due to a mechanical failure and his parachute failed to open. Luckily, he landed in a small tidal pool at high tide and his life was spared at that time. He was, fortunately, able to remain a pilot for his 21 years in the Navy despite 3 compressed vertebrae. During his earthly adventures, his life was spared many other times in miraculous manners.
Dean’s career as a Navy pilot was altered when he was forced to change planes from fighter jets to attack jets because of the configuration of the ejection seat. Because of his accident and his back injury, he changed planes to A-4s because the ejection seat and sequence were less violent in the A-4 than in the F-8 Crusader. Dean was transferred to the training command in Kingsville, Texas where he was assigned to be an A-4 flight instructor. It was in Kingsville, Texas where he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and where he met and married his beloved wife Susan Klein in 1969. They were later sealed in the Oakland, CA Temple.
Dean continued to pursue his education throughout his Navy career and completed his BA in Business and earned his MS in Computer Systems Management at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA from 1972-1974. It was while stationed at the Post Graduate school that both his children, Starr and Aaron were born.
Dean continually sought opportunities to be of service to others throughout his life. While assigned to a squadron onboard the USS Ranger, he organized the aircraft carrier to rebuild a typhoon-destroyed school in the Philippines for which he was recognized in a commendation letter from the White House. He also had the opportunity to be a volunteer court mediator in Arizona where out of 106 cases he failed to reach an agreement only 6 times.
He was assigned to the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon for 5 years, a very exciting posting. His final Naval assignment allowed his family to accompany Dean to the naval station on Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where his family enjoyed three years of eternal vacation while Dean worked training aircraft carriers to launch and recover airplanes. It was there that Dean was able to teach at the university level as he taught various classes for Old Dominion University.
Upon his retirement in 1981 at the rank of Lieutenant Commander, he moved his family to Fresno, CA where he earned an MBA degree and upon graduation, he pursued a career in municipal government holding such positions as Finance Director, Risk Manager for cities, counties, and insurance companies.
Dean joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at the age of 27 and then dedicated his life to teaching others his belief in the Gospel. The Gospel was Dean’s true hobby to which he devoted himself tirelessly. He served as a Bishop and as a counselor in five bishoprics. He held many other positions of leadership and teaching. He particularly enjoyed teaching gospel doctrine and leading many scout troops. He lived to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Dean is survived by his wife, Susan “Sue” Beyer, and his children Starr (David) Nelson and Aaron (Rose) Beyer, and five grandsons: Jordan (Sara) Nelson, Dalin (Jocelyn) Nelson, Harrison Nelson, Gavin Beyer, and Hayden Beyer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Elizabeth Beyer, his Brother Rodney Beyer, his sister Gail Bromley, mother-in-law, Mildred Klein, and brother-in-law, Kevin Taylor.
Funeral services handled by Larkin Mortuary will be held Friday, March 4th at 11 am at the West Jordan Utah River Stake building located at 1380 West 6785 South, West Jordan UT. A viewing the evening of Thursday, March 3rd, from 6-8 pm will be held at Larkin Mortuary Riverton, 3688 West 12600 South, Riverton, UT. Another viewing will take place prior to the funeral services beginning at 10 am. Interment to follow the funeral services at the Utah Veterans cemetery and Memorial Park in Bluffdale, UT. It is a little confusing to find the location of the church so please use your GPS navigation.
In lieu of flowers donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or MercyShips.com are requested.
To view the previously held funeral services, please click the "Watch Services" link above.
Me deep sympathy to all of Dean's family. My heart aches for your heart ache over this tremendous loss.
Gentle hugs to family and friends. Dean was a great man, who gave his all to every person he knew.
I met Dean when assigned to NAS Kingsville as Personnel Officer. He was instrumental in Janet's, (Whitworth - later my wife), joining the Church. He was a good man, and an exemplary officer. Well Done.