1930-2025

C. Arlen Beam, a onetime seed corn salesman who completed law school when he was 35 years old and later went on to serve for almost 40 years as a federal judge, first at the District Court level in Nebraska and later as a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, died Oct. 31 in Lincoln. He was 95.

At the time of his death, Judge Beam was living at The Landing, a senior living community in Lincoln. His wife of 74 years, Betty, had passed away in May.

A public memorial service to celebrate the lives of Judge Beam and Betty is planned for noon on Friday, Nov. 21, at Eastridge Presbyterian Church, 1135 Eastridge Drive, in Lincoln. Burial will be private.

During his tenure with the federal courts, Judge Beam wrote more than 2,700 opinions on a wide range of legal issues.  Those issues included several that were politically sensitive, such as Kansas City’s school desegregation plan in the 1990s; a sexual harassment lawsuit involving President Bill Clinton while he was governor of Arkansas; and the viability of federal drug laws criminalizing medical marijuana in California.

Other cases presented equally thorny legal questions but attracted less public attention, such as an antitrust case involving an alleged conspiracy by fertilizer manufacturers to fix potash prices; legal disputes involving Native American tribes that addressed questions of tribal sovereignty; and a case that set criteria for denying benefits under retirement and health plans regulated by the federal government.

President Ronald Reagan had appointed Judge Beam to the federal District Court in 1981, assuming a position vacated by Robert V. Denney, a former Republican congressman who had represented Nebraska’s First District in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Reagan then elevated Judge Beam to the Eighth Circuit appeals court in 1987.

In 2001, Judge Beam assumed senior status with the Eighth Circuit, which is roughly akin to taking semi-retirement, although for almost two additional decades he continued to participate in the three-judge panels that do much of the work of the federal appeals courts. He moved to inactive status in 2020.

Prior to taking the federal bench, Judge Beam had a successful law practice in Lincoln, specializing in trial work and lobbying. He had long been active in Republican Party politics, and for a time in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Judge Beam was an informal legal adviser to Charles Thone, who had been a Republican congressman representing Nebraska’s First District before becoming governor in 1979.

Thone, who died in 2018, was pivotal in advocating for Judge Beam’s appointment to the federal District Court. At a 2001 ceremony honoring Judge Beam’s service, Thone recalled taking a call from a staff member of the Reagan Administration’s Justice Department, asking the then-governor to provide three names to consider for Denney’s court vacancy.

“Yeah, I’ll give you three names,” Thone said. “The first is C. Arlen Beam. The second is C.A. Beam. The third is Arlen Beam.” Reagan went on to nominate Judge Beam for the District Court vacancy, which was in Omaha. The U.S. Senate confirmed him in November 1981, and he took the bench in January 1982.

Judge Beam and Betty moved to Omaha until he was appointed to the Eighth Circuit about six years later, at which point they relocated back to Lincoln, where Judge Beam maintained his principal chambers in the Robert V. Denney Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse until taking inactive status.

A career that carried Clarence Arlen Beam to one of the highest courts in the nation was not anything he had contemplated while growing up in Nebraska’s Sandhills in the aftermath of the Great Depression.

He was born on January 14, 1930, in Stapleton, a community of about 350 residents that is the seat of Logan County. His mother, Cecil, was a schoolteacher and his father, also named Clarence, was a farmer, rancher and rural mail carrier. Through most of his life, Arlen chose to go by his middle name to avoid confusion with his father. He was the third eldest of four children. His older sisters, Mercedes and Donna Jean, and his younger brother, Charles, all preceded him in death.

Arlen’s experiences growing up in a closeknit farming and ranching community remained central to whom he became as an adult. He decorated his courthouse offices with photos, paintings and sculptures with Western Nebraska motifs, and he favored cowboy boots when the occasion was appropriate.  Until his death, he subscribed to the Stapleton Enterprise, the town’s weekly newspaper.

After finishing high school in Stapleton in 1947, as part of a class of just 14 students, Arlen headed to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska. As he later explained in a short oral history for Creighton University, his mother had been “bound and determined” that he and his siblings would continue their education. “It was given early on,” he explained, “that we’d go to college. She was a teacher.”

He earned a Regents scholarship to NU, along with a grant from the Union Pacific Railroad and a stipend from KFAB Radio for winning a 4-H public speaking contest. That was not enough to pay all his expenses, so he lined up three part-time jobs in Lincoln and began a dual-degree program in agronomy and agricultural journalism. He joined the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, which was near NU’s East Campus, where most of the university’s agriculture programs were located.

Toward the conclusion of his undergraduate studies, Arlen took a job as a feature writer for the Nebraska Farmer magazine. That permitted him to travel the state, to pay college expenses, and, as important, to buy wedding rings so that he could marry his sweetheart, Betty Lou Fletcher. She was an NU student whom he had started dating after meeting her at a campus event in November 1950.

They married in July 1951 at a small Presbyterian church in Lincoln, just after Arlen had finished his bachelor’s degree. By September of that year, the newlyweds were headed to a U.S. Army training center in Aberdeen, MD, where Arlen would begin military service that eventually would take him to the Korean Peninsula as a combat engineer.

In late March 1952, Betty gave birth to their first son, in Aberdeen, and a few weeks later, Arlen embarked from Seattle for his military assignment in Asia. Betty returned to Lincoln with their newborn to live with her parents, and she remained there during Arlen’s deployment.

Arlen recalled that he and Betty wrote each other letters every day during the time that he was in Korea. Sometimes, if Arlen knew that he would not be able to send Betty a letter for a few days, he would write several in advance and have an Army clerk mail one each day.

After almost two years on active duty, first in Maryland and then Korea, Arlen returned to the United States in August 1953. Betty met him at Fort Carson, CO, where he was discharged from active duty into the Army Reserves. (He remained in the Army Reserves until 1964, ending his military service at the rank of captain.) Arlen and Betty traveled back to Lincoln, and in September 1953, Arlen started law school at the University of Nebraska – a career path that he had settled on while away on active duty.

After only a year, though, a health problem of Betty’s led him to withdraw from law school. He took a job with Steckley Hybrid Corn Co., which was based in Lincoln. He would work for Steckley for about the next 10 years, first selling seed corn to farmers in Iowa and Illinois but eventually returning to a job at the company headquarters in Lincoln.

In 1963, Steckley agreed to merge with another agribusiness corporation, and Arlen decided that he wanted to finish the law degree that he had started 10 years earlier, rather than relocate with Steckley to Iowa. But was that possible? A conversation he had with the dean of the NU School of Law led to an accommodation that allowed Arlen to pick up where he had left off, so he resumed his legal studies at NU in fall of 1963.

By this time, his and Betty’s family had grown to five boys. To earn money as he embarked on the final two years of law school, they set up an advertising and public relations business in Lincoln. He became active in local Republican Party politics, and in 1964 managed Sen. Barry Goldwater’s Nebraska presidential campaign while attending law school full time.

After completing his law degree in 1965 and passing the bar exam, he joined the Lincoln firm of Chambers, Holland & Dudgeon, quickly earning a partnership. In 1971, he helped merge that firm with another in Lincoln to form Knudsen, Berkheimer, Endacott & Beam. His formal association with Knudsen, Berkheimer ended in late 1981, when he was confirmed to the position on the federal District Court.

When Judge Beam began his tenure with the federal courts, he ended his political involvements but nonetheless remained active with the local and state bar associations, as well as with other legal and civic organizations. He was a lifetime member of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, and he took on various administrative or policy roles within the federal court system.

For decades, has was an active member of Lincoln Downtown Rotary Club #14, once traveling to South America as part of a delegation from Rotary International. He also was a member of Shriners International and was a master Mason with the North Star Lodge #227 in Nebraska.

Judge Beam’s religious faith was a central aspect of the life he and Betty established.  Through the years, he and Betty attended various Presbyterian churches in Lincoln and Omaha. At the time of his death, he was a member of Eastridge Presbyterian Church. Though declining health had prevented him from attending Eastridge services in recent years, he participated regularly in the nondenominational services at The Landing.

His heath challenges also ended two longtime passions. He and Betty were members of the Lincoln Country Club, which afforded him the chance to play golf regularly for many years. Unlike so many of his other pursuits, golf was not something at which he excelled naturally, but he enjoyed the game nonetheless.

Another love was jogging, which is something he did almost daily until he was in his late 80s, even while away on business trips. A typical outing was 5 miles or so, and usually he was on his own. In bad weather, he would resort to a treadmill that he installed in the basement of his Lincoln home. From time to time, a fall produced skinned knees and elbows, and on one occasion scrapes on his face. Despite Betty’s urging that he find a recreational pursuit less likely to result in a broken limb, he remained undeterred.

Judge Beam was an extrovert, and he cherished the relationships that he developed with friends, associates, neighbors – and even a taxi driver whom he hired regularly when he and his staff traveled to St. Louis on court business. He was particularly proud of his association with his trusted judicial assistant, Gini Russell. He hired her in 1979 while in private practice, and they continued to work together until he closed his judicial offices in 2020.

Federal judges typically hire law school graduates as “clerks,” mostly for a year or two, to assist with legal research, to help draft opinions, and to take on other tasks for the courts. A federal judicial clerkship is competitive and prestigious, and many tend to go to graduates of law schools with high national rankings.

Judge Beam, who had 67 clerks during his time on the bench, made a point of seeking out candidates from Midwestern law schools, observing on more than one occasion that he considered the top graduates of those schools just as capable as students from the more prominent universities that tend to dominate hiring for federal clerkships.

Through the years, his clerks held Judge Beam in equally high regard as a mentor and legal thinker. At a 2001 ceremony marking the unveiling of Judge Beam’s portrait at the federal courthouse in Omaha, Moira White Kennedy spoke for current and former clerks.

“Years ago, when we accepted our positions in Judge Beam’s chambers, we were excited at the prospect of working for the Eighth Circuit and for Judge Beam,” White Kennedy said, “but we had no idea what an honor we were in for, not only because of the nature of the job but because of the nature of the judge.”

Two decades later, similar sentiments were voiced in a personal note that one of Judge Beam’s last two clerks, Kris Brenneis, sent to him upon taking inactive status. (Judge Beam had hired Brenneis and Amy Vyhlidal as permanent clerks during his tenure on senior status, and they worked with him for many years.) “Quite simply,” Brenneis wrote, “you are a remarkable, multifaceted man who is as enamored with listening to the symphony as you are with explaining different breeds of cattle to your unlearned clerks.”

His clerks and colleagues likely would agree that important hallmarks of Judge Beam’s approach to the law – and to life generally – were to treat others respectfully and, above all else, to understand thoroughly a situation, a set of options, or an issue before proceeding. One of his favorite aphorisms was “out of an abundance of caution,” a phrase that he would sprinkle liberally into conversations almost any time that he was offering advice or warnings to his sons, to his clients, to his law clerks.

Indeed, at the 2001 portrait ceremony, Judge Beam’s friend and former law partner, Larry Ruth, recalled often hearing the judge advise that “out of an abundance of caution, we need to thoroughly research this issue.” Ruth then turned to the judge and added: “I don’t know why it is, Judge, but it’s the law clerks that seem to be laughing mostly!”

Judge Beam is survived by his sons and their spouses Randy Beam and Jerry Baldasty of Seattle; Jim Beam of Rockford, IL; Tom and Debbie Beam of Littleton, CO; Brad Beam of Lincoln, and Greg and Flora Beam of Everett, WA; four granddaughters; two great-grandchildren; and 11 nieces and nephews.

En lieu of flowers or other gifts, the Beam family encourages donations to the Eastridge Presbyterian Church Food Pantry, 1135 Eastridge Drive, Lincoln, NE 68510.

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July 11, 1955 – October 22, 2025

Randall “Randy” Scott Everson, age 70, of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2025, in his hometown of Lincoln.

Born on July 11, 1955, Randy was a lifelong Nebraskan whose dedication to providing for his family and hard work left a lasting impression on all who knew him. He spent over 35 years working for Burlington Northern Railroad, which later became BNSF Railway, primarily at the Havelock Shops in the Paint Shop. His commitment to hard work extended beyond the rails, as he also created and ran his own businesses—Randy’s Small Engine Repair and Randy’s Lawn Care—serving his community with skill and care.

Randy was a man of many passions. He found joy in fishing, especially for crappie, and spent countless hours listening to country music, woodworking, gardening, and cheering on sprint car races. Friday night Dairy Queen visits were a cherished family tradition, and he loved putting back a few red beers with friends and family. Known for his friendly and quirky personality, Randy lived life unapologetically as his true self, always striving to get a good laugh and smile out of those around him.

He is survived by his sons, David Everson (Stacy) and Robert Everson (Kelly); sister, Sue Cover; and grandchildren Kaitlyn, Kobe, Josie, Melanie, and Hunter Everson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mel and Norma Everson; his brother Doug Everson; and his infant sister, Sandra Everson.

A funeral service will be held at Wyuka Funeral Home in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Family and friends are invited to come and celebrate Randy’s life.

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JoAnn was born on July 1, 1939, to Ken & Gladys Keyser, Lincoln, NE.

JoAnn was a beautiful, outgoing, creative, fun person. She spent most of her time working in her yard and creating flower arrangements for others. She spent many hours decorating and serving in her church and helping others make their space beautiful. Her faith in God was strong, and she loved her family with all her heart. She was the best Mom, Grandmother and Friend ever!

JoAnn is survived by daughter Sherri Ellifson (Dave), daughter Aimee Griese (Lance), son Jeff Jensen (Kay), stepson Mark McIntosh (Tami), stepson Paul McIntosh, stepson Craig McIntosh (Adrienn), stepdaughter Barb McIntosh. Many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Sister Patty Wright, sister Diane Stebbins, sister Evelyn Blackburn (Larry), brother Don Keyser (Jeanette), brother Neil Keyser (Sharon). She was preceded in death by husband Marvin McIntosh, daughter Angie Jensen, brother Harold Keyser, and brother Chuck Keyser.

Memorials may be donated to The Salvation Army of Lincoln HERE

JoAnn’s Funeral Service will be livestreamed HERE

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October 28, 1938 – October 21, 2025

Peggy Jane Fletcher, 86, passed away on October 21, 2025, in Lincoln, NE surrounded by her family. She was born on October 28, 1938, in Grand Island, NE to Irvin P. and Ruby M. Meves.

She graduated from Grand Island High School and Nebraska Wesleyan University. Peg began her career as a Medical Technologist in Lincoln, NE in 1961. On October 27,1964 Peg married her best friend and soulmate, Larry L. Fletcher. Together they had two daughters, Mavis and Marcy.

Peg is survived by her husband of nearly 61 years, Dr. Larry Fletcher of Lincoln, NE; their children, Mavis Fletcher (Matthew White) of Omaha, NE; Marcy (Rodger) Main of Ames, IA; grandchildren, Odessa White and Jasper White of Omaha, NE; sister, Judy Bremer of Lincoln, NE; and sister-in-law, Joann (Dick) Nietfeld of Grand Island, NE; as well as nephews, nieces and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Irvin and Ruby Meves and sisters, Nancy Roenfeldt, Terry Larson and Mary Marr.

Peggy was a natural born teacher and a lifelong learner. Early in her career, she trained and instructed fellow medical technologists at Bryan Hospital and University of Nebraska-Omaha. Decades later Peg would use her teaching skills again after fulfilling her dream to establish a nature school for children. A barn schoolhouse was thoughtfully constructed, and Prairie Song was born. There on the beautiful property that she and Larry cultivated together, she would spend several joyous years teaching nature classes to young children. Through her knowledge, warmth and creativity, she fostered curiosity and an appreciation of the great outdoors in her students. Being a kid at heart herself, she thoroughly enjoyed her role as a teacher naturalist…and the children felt it too.

Peg was a very nurturing and supportive mom. She was involved in her daughters’ school activities and was their scout leader for years. Mavis and Marcy are forever proud to call her their best friend. Being a grandma was a cherished title to Peg. Lovingly known as “Maga” to her grandchildren, she was an endless source of love, fun, comfort and encouragement for them.

Peg contributed significantly to her community through leadership roles in several organizations, such as Nebraska Medical Association Auxiliary, P.E.O., National T.T.T. Society and was a member of First Lutheran Church for over 45 years where she was involved in various committees. She also volunteered at Tabitha’s Meals on Wheels and food pantry. Peggy organized and led Alzheimer’s support and bereavement groups from her home. She always found fulfillment in helping and advocating for others and had a very generous spirit.

Peg was a visionary and a true steward of the land and, together with Larry, they transformed their property into a beautiful haven; a true labor of love. Over decades, Peg’s careful planning created a diverse habitat of plants, trees, prairie grasses and wildflowers to welcome wildlife and to be shared and enjoyed by all. Peg was also the “keeper” of their vineyard and orchestrated the annual harvest to ensure it was a successful event. One day a year, when the grapes were at their peak, friends, family and local organizations would gather for a fun day of harvesting at the Fletcher’s. Through her hard work and dedication, Peg and Larry’s land has become an official site with the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and their hand-sown prairie is established as a conservation easement with Wachiska Audubon Society. She was an active participant in several environmental groups and was a co-founding member of the Great Plains Trails Network and Bluebirds Across Nebraska.

Peg was deeply connected to the seasons and truly enjoyed the many wonders of nature. It was her love, knowledge and spiritual connection of and to the natural world that shaped much of who she was. Her family is forever grateful that she passed this passion onto them.

Finding peace and wonder in and from nature, Peggy also enjoyed hiking, biking, traveling, gardening and spending time outdoors with their beloved dogs. She especially found delight in making floral arrangements using natural elements collected directly from their land. Having an artistic flair, she excelled at sewing, painting, decorating and photography. Peg was also a wonderful and patient listener. Friends and strangers alike benefited from her insight and steady advice.

Above all faith and family defined Peggy. She was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. A constant source of compassion, inspiration, companionship, strength and kindness. Peg will sing in our hearts…always and forever.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at First Lutheran Church 1551 South 70th Street in Lincoln, NE.

Memorials may be made to: Wachiska Audubon Society, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, Capital Humane Society or Great Plains Trails Network.

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Sue truly enjoyed her work as a school bus driver and will be remembered for her caring heart and generosity, especially her love of helping others by sharing food and kindness. She also shared her creative spirit with many, teaching ceramic painting classes to both children and adults.

Sue is survived by her brother, Joe (Cindy) Bouslaugh; sisters, Coralea Kotrous; and Mary (Jim) Lottman; children, Sandi (Scott) Reid, Pat (Karen) Paulson, Melinda (Kerry) Myles, and John (Connie) Paulson; sister-in-law, Bev Anderson; as well as many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren include Jamie Comuso, Aaron Allen, Destiny Comuso, Derek (Meggie) Reid, Ronnie (Jess) Sabin, and Anthony (Kelsey) Odem.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Ball Jr.; grandmother, Cora Ray; parents, Arlene Bouslaugh and Joe Campsey; aunts and uncles; and nephew, Micheal Bouslaugh.

A visitation will be held on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m., both at Wyuka Funeral Home, 3600 “O” Street, Lincoln, NE 68510.

Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation.

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Billie Louise (Smith) Cripe, 95 passed away peacefully on Oct 17,2025. Born on April 9, 1930 to Howard Roy Smith and Anna Mae Bennett in Wymore, NE. The baby of seven child.

She was a trained singer and sang for military funerals and weddings. In high school she was a Drum Majorette and loved when any of her family did anything to do with music. She was a member of the LPS Mother singers.

She married the love of her life, Francis “Did” Cripe on June 4, 1949. She became a mother to Susan Ann in January 1950. Then again to Debra Kay in June 1954. In 1968 “Did” & Billie moved to Waverly, Ne and bought a little grocery store. Then later bought the Jack & Jill in Waverly. In 1975 they sold the store and moved to Lincoln, NE and she went to work for DeBrown’s Auto Sales Co. Studabaker Cars.

In 1983 she started work for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Credit Union as a receptionist where she was the first person to ever retire from there after 12 years. During those years she enjoyed lots of Husker football games, camping, boating, playing cards, golfing with “Did” and spending time with family.

After “Did” finally retired they bought a trailer in Florida to spend half the year with their daughter Debbie and grandson Mike, and his family. In the 15 years since “Did’s” passing she has enjoyed watching her Huskers no matter football or volleyball or whatever sport it was as long as it was the Huskers. She also enjoyed watching her Great Grands grow in everything they did.

Billie was proceeded in death by her parents and her brothers Harold and Benjamen and her sisters Loree, Audrey, Arlene and June. She is survived by her daughter’s Susan (Russell) Taylor, and Debra (Jim) Wynn and her 4 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She also had many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, October 26, 2025 at Wyuka Funeral Home, Lincoln. Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 27, 2025 at Wyuka, 3600 “O” Street, Lincoln. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Association, American Lung Association or the American Heart Association.

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Wyuka Cemetery – Lincoln, Nebraska
Full-time | Hourly | Benefits Eligible

About Wyuka:
Since 1869, Wyuka has been Lincoln’s historic cemetery — a place of peace, heritage, and reflection. Our mission is to provide exceptional care for families and maintain our 140+ acre grounds with the dignity they deserve.

Position Summary:
Wyuka seeks a Cemetery Sexton & Grounds Technician to join our dedicated team. This position is responsible for grave excavation, marker installation, and maintaining the beauty and integrity of our cemetery grounds.

You’ll work outdoors year-round, using equipment and teamwork to ensure each service and burial is handled with precision and respect.

Responsibilities include:

• Preparing and closing graves safely and accurately
• Setting monuments, markers, and vases
• Operating backhoes, mowers, and other machinery
• Maintaining grounds, turf, and landscaped areas
• Supporting funeral services with setup and coordination
• Following safety and maintenance procedures daily

Qualifications:

• Experience in cemetery, landscape, or construction work
• Equipment operation skills (backhoe, tractor, skid-steer, etc.)
• Reliable, respectful, and physically capable of outdoor labor
• Valid driver’s license 
• High school diploma or equivalent

Schedule & Pay:

• Full-time, typically Monday–Friday, with some Saturday rotation
• Hourly pay: depending on experience
• Benefits: Dental, vision, paid time off, and matching Simple IRA.

How to Apply:
Send résumé or application to jvossler@wyuka.com with subject line “Cemetery Sexton – Your Name.”
Wyuka is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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NOTICE AND AGENDA OF MONTHLY MEETING WYUKA BOARD OF TRUSTEES October 16 2025 DRAFT3

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Mary’s visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, October 10, 2025, at Wyuka Funeral Home, 3600 “O” Street, Lincoln. Mary’s life will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, October 11th at New Bethel Bibleway Apostolic Church, 1900 West A Street, Lincoln.

Memorials to the family for further designation.

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