James Richard Beaver passed away at his home in Spirit Lake, Iowa, on August 8, 2026, at the age of 95 years. He was born to Charles and Gladys (Brown) Beaver on May 27, 1931. A memorial visitation for Jim will be held at Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel in Estherville on Friday, August 14, 2026, from 5PM to 7PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you share a memory of Jim on the Henry Olson Website, or give to a charity of your choice in Jim’s honor.
Jim grew up on farms around Estherville and graduated from Gruver High School. After high school, the family moved to a farm near Seneca, IA. Jim and his brother, Jerry, went into business baling and shelling corn for area farmers. Jim then became a partner in Ringsted Produce. While in Ringsted, he met the love of his life, Beverly. They were married October 2, 1954, and Jim became an instant father to Bev’s young son, Terry Christiansen. The family lived in Ringsted, where son, Bob, and daughter, Patty, would join the family. They moved to Estherville in 1957 as Jim worked for the egg plant. Daughter, Becky, joined the family there. Jim worked 18 years at the egg plant before taking over the Kerr-McGee service station with son, Bob. In 1977, Jim and Bev moved to Mesa, AZ, where he held down several jobs until retiring. In 1998 they moved back to Spirit Lake, and spent 28 years in the same house. Beverly passed away in 2018, and Jim remained busy maintaining the home until the time of his death.
Jim loved fishing. He could be found many nights wading in Spirit Lake fishing for walleyes. In later years, he would fish off public docks, and many fishermen would search out his Mazda pickup because they knew that that’s where the fish were biting. As much as he liked fishing in the spring and fall, he didn’t like ice fishing. He always said if he couldn’t catch enough in open water to get through the winter, it didn’t matter.
Left to cherish his memory are his children, Bob (Paula) Beaver of Estherville, Patty (Paul) Freedman of Mesa, AZ; and Becky Beaver (Ed Larkin) of Estero, FL; daughters-in-law, Barb Christiansen of Sartell, MN, and Patsy Snyder of Fargo, ND; 9 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; sister, Marian Gardner; brothers Gerald (Leann) and Kenneth (Pat) Beaver; many nephews and nieces; special cousins/friends, Bill & Marilyn Beaver; and his girlfriend, Marie Callender (pies).
Preceding Jim in death were his wife, Beverly; his son, Terry; his grandson, Christopher; his parents; his parents-in-law, Clifford and Mae Huntley; his sister-in-law, Jeanette McDowell; and his brother-in-law, Virgil Gardner.
Henry-Olson Funeral Home of Estherville is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.henryolsonfuneral.com.
