Ivan Leroy Beal, 89, a longtime resident of Big Springs Ne., passed away peacefully with family by his side at Ogallala Community Hospital in Ogallala Ne. on January 25, 2024.
Ivan was born February 5, 1934, at Brule, Nebraska, to Omer and Juanita (Cranmore) Beal. He graduated from Big Springs High School, attended Southwestern Bible College Waxahachie, Tx, then later in life Western Nebraska Technical College at Sidney, Nebraska for aircraft mechanics.
Ivan served his country in the Air Force. While attending church in Oklahoma City he saw Barbara Jean Rush across the room and told his friend that he was going to marry that woman. On October 18, 1957 in Oklahoma City he married that woman and they have been together for 66 years. The couple was blessed with four children: James, Jeffrey, John, and Rebecca. They made their home in Brule for a short time before moving to Big Springs, where Ivan farmed, and custom harvested until 1984. He would eventually be involved in the trucking Industry full time, owning Frontier Trucking Inc. logging a few million miles over the road until his retirement in 2015.
Ivan had a heart for people. He never met a stranger and could talk for hours. In later life he was a man who spoke few words but still had a unique way of connecting deeply with people. Ivan was always willing to lend a hand to those in need. One of the ways he reached out to people was through a truck stop ministry that he started and was a part of for over 20 years. Through that ministry, Ivan shared his love of the Lord and distributed bibles to a great many people.
Ivan was a devoted husband, father, grandpa and great grandpa. His deep love for them was reciprocated and, as with most things with Ivan, rose above the common expression of words.
Ivan was preceded in death by his parents, his parents-in-laws, E.W. and Florence Rush, sister and brother-in-law Marva and Dwayne Smith, brother-in-law Ivan Palser, brother-in-law Jim Ingram and his son, Jeffrey.
Survivors include his wife Barbara of Ogallala; children, James (Tammy) Beal, of Big Springs, John (Jana Lee) Beal of Nebraska City, Rebecca (Doug) Harpham of Kenesaw; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Chrissy) Beal, Jamie (Mike) VanDerWerff, Jared (Kortney) Beal, Laurette (Adam) Greenman, Holly (Cameron) Christensen, Miranda (Jerami) Blundell, John M. Beal, Amanda (Luke) Ballou, Katie (Peter) Madrigal, and Cole Harpham; nineteen great-grandchildren; his sister, Mary Helen Palser of Grant; sister-in-law, Sue Ingram of Eufaula, OK; along with numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial has been established in his memory for later designation. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the services will be streamed live.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at 10:30 AM at the Assembly of God Church at Big Springs, with Pastors Alan Harris and Marke Baker officiating. Interment with military honors will be in the Big Springs Cemetery.
Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.