In Memory

Randall Beall

Randall Beall

Randall L. Beall

Born: January 5, 1961
Died: April 30, 1981

 
Memories of Randall:  Quick-with-a-joke, LDS Missionary, directing traffic in the Timpview Commons area, singing Opera at the top of his voice, sometimes quiet, fascination with law enforcement, stories about Officer Halvorsen, a good friend, troubled, now at peace. 
 
 
Gravestone picture submitted by AnnDee Synder
 
Tiimpivew 1979 Yearbook
 
 
Randall's eighth-grade photo from the yearbook entitled Echo '75.

 

Special thanks to Barry Knudsen for submitting information about his passing



 
go to bottom 
  Post Comment

01/30/09 12:08 PM #1    

Barry Knudsen

I had heard years ago (don't remember from who or where, but I seem to recall it being a credible source), that Randall had served a Mission for the LDS Church and then had, unfortunately, taken his own life, afterwards.

I discovered today (Friday, January 30, 2009) through a Google search, that he passed sometime around 01 May 1981, the date of the printing of his obituary in the Provo Daily Herald.

Rest in peace, Brother Randall.

02/08/09 07:16 PM #2    

Michael Bullock

When I first met Randall in the middle of 9th grade, we didn't hit it off too well. I'm not sure why. So I avoided him until I found myself sitting next to him in a class in 10th grade at Provo High. I got to know him and we became friends. I remember his fascination with law enforcement and his stories of "Officer Halverson" of the Provo Police Dept. The more I grew to know him, the more I liked him.

I was very saddened to hear of his passing not long after it happened in 1981.

Rest in peace, my friend.

Michael Bullock

02/10/09 09:22 PM #3    

Cindy Quinn (Westoby)

If I am remembering it right, wasn't it Randall that pretended to be a traffic cop in the hallways, blowing his whistle and waving his hands to stop and start the flow of traffic/students as we all hustled to class... does anyone else remember this?? it was so funny and random...
We are still thinking of you Randall.

02/14/09 12:25 AM #4    

David Harris

I'm pleased to read all these comments about Randall here. Like Mike B., I felt like the more I got to know Randall, the more I liked him. He was quirky and sometimes hard to figure out, but (or maybe *and*) sometimes he could really make you laugh. I, too, loved to hear his stories about Officer Halverson and other only vaguely remembered ones about such characters as Caleb which are lost to the sands of time now, I suppose.

Recently, I was telling Kevin Gull about a summer night when some of us in my neighborhood just north of the Marriott Center were hanging out down on the corner. At one point, we grabbed the neighbor's hose and, with it turned on all the way, shoved it into the car window of other friends who were passing by. Just then, a fancy late-model car drives up. We're sure it's an undercover cop, and we're ready to scatter. The window slowly comes down and it's Randall Beall, perched upon the driver's seat like royalty, calmly surveying the scene in silence before advising us, in a fatherly way, to not let things get too out of hand. After that, he laughed and loosened up, and we had a good chat before he continued on his way.

While we were both on our missions, Randall and I exchanged a couple of letters. In those days, news traveled slowly across the Atlantic. There was no email. Phone calls were over a dollar a minute, so we simply didn't call home, and letters took 7-10 days. So it was sometimes three weeks or more before you'd get an answer to a question. It seemed like I had just gotten a letter from Randall when, suddenly, an obituary turned up in the mail. My mother had cut it out and included it with one of my parents' letters. I still remember how confused and empty the news made me feel.

Randall's eighth-grade photo as posted above reminds me of a young Roy Orbison. All that black hair, I guess, along with that hint of mischief in his eyes.

I'm glad I stumbled across the photo of him serving as prom royalty. He really looks happy there, and it seemed natural to extract a shot of him from that photo to serve as a replacement for the senior photo he somehow neglected to get taken. (Somehow, I never got my own taken, either. I think I had an aversion to tuxes at that time or something.)

Let me echo Barry's sentiments in conclusion. Rest in peace, Brother Randall.

02/14/09 08:21 PM #5    

Brad Winterton

In 9th grade at Farrer Jr High, I sometimes hung out by the back door during lunch, where Mr Reed (Reid?), the Custodian, was the door guard. Randall hung out there as well. I clearly remember Randall once telling Mr Reed, "When I grow up I'm either going to be a Sheriff or a Rabi."

It WAS Randall who occasionally directed traffic during class break, complete with white gloves and police whistle (and he really was quite good at it...).

While I was in the MTC (March-May 1980), Randall also entered the MTC. Needless to say, I was a bit surprised to see him there and the look on my face must have said as much because he smiled his smile and said, "No Elder Winterton, you're not having a revelation, its really me."

02/20/09 09:38 PM #6    

David Lundberg

My fond memory of Randall is when he was singing opera in the halls. Later in life I've become an opera fan and admire that he was tuned into that art, even as one of his humor vehicles, while so young. I was saddened when I heard he left us and on occasion since have reflected on why he did. I didn't know him well, but reading others experiences with him I see how much he had to offer us.

02/22/09 11:29 PM #7    

Martha Robison (Stewart)

I remember Randall getting under the collar of a seminary student teacher at Farrer Jr. High. The teachers name was Brother Lavene and Randall kept calling him Br. Latrine. I do remember Randall directing traffic in the commons one day, Cindy. But the memory that stands out most is Randall sing opera at full voice in the commons. I had no idea he could sing at all. Who else could get away with such behavior! Randall definitely had a way of making me laugh. I'm sorry that it ended all too soon.

02/25/09 12:42 AM #8    

Cindy Quinn (Westoby)

Oh yes he sang opera down the halls, how could I have forgotten, thanks for the reminder.

03/23/09 04:13 PM #9    

Kevin Gull

One of my funniest memories of Randall is in relation to how good of a "blind-side" tackler he was -- especially in the halls or Commons of Timpview HS. Luckily I never was on the receiving end of one of those tackles. (I think Newy was the primary instigator who usually helped Randall to select his victims.)

Randall was a great guy. We actually hung out a bit after he came home from his Mission and he confided in a few us about his troubles. I know that he is in a much happier place, where the things of this world don't trouble him and I feel strongly that he has obtained the peace he was searching for.





go to top 
  Post Comment