Obituary of Delmar L. Beattie

Delmar (fondly known as Del) Beattie was born December 12, 1936 to Louis (C.L.) and Esther (Davis) Beattie in a small adobe house north of Stratton, Colorado. He was the second oldest of five boys and learned the challenges of farming, ranching, and tough conditions of the eastern plains. Del and his brothers went to country schools until 6th grade and then to Stratton Public Schools for junior high and high school. Del truly enjoyed participating in all forms of sports: track, football, baseball, and basketball throughout high school and into college. Del attended a year at Colorado State University and a year at the University of Northern Colorado. He was employed during both years paying his own expenses through college. During the summers he worked at service stations in La Salle and Limon. He moved to Limon in 1956 and played town team basketball and baseball where he made many new friends including the brothers of his future bride, Avril Schoonover. The first dance with Avril, which later led to courtship, was at a Sammy Kay dance in December of 1956 at the Limon High School Gymnasium. Del and Avril were married on August 9, 1958 and made their home in Limon. In 1960, they leased a Phillips 66 service station. In 1968 Del was elected to the Town Board of Trustees. Once on the Board, his first priority was to expand the Town recreation program to include East-Central Babe Ruth Baseball League for 13-15 year olds, and then 16-18 year olds. He served as a Trustee on the Board until was elected as Mayor in 1976. At that time, Interstate-70 bypassed downtown Limon, and Del’s 66 was sold. With the loss of traffic and businesses on Main Street, Del acted diligently to ensure viability of the town. He pushed the Board to secure a sustainable water supply for the town with the purchase of water rights. After his time on the Board and as Mayor, he served as the Town Superintendent for 14 years. During that time, he advocated for the building of the Limon Correctional Facility, worked tirelessly to help the town recover from the devastating tornado of 1990 and improved the condition of the streets and golf course. Del served on the Colorado Municipal League Board, Progressive 15, the Your Community Foundation Board, the Lincoln County Community Hospital Board, and was a member of the Rotary and Lions Club. He was a volunteer on the Limon Fire Department for 32 years. Limon was his second family and he maintained a sense of pride to make it the most desirable place to live. Del was named the 2004 Citizen of the Year. He would do anything for his community and fellow citizens. During the years of his work in Limon, he continued to farm and ranch in Stratton. Del was a member of the First United Methodist Church-Limon and lived his life as a servant. Being an avid fan of sports of any kind, especially high school baseball, football, basketball, and track, he rarely missed a local event. Del and Avril traveled over mountains, plains and states for playoffs and championships. Avril and Del attended college football bowl games and various Denver professional sports. Del enjoyed bowling and golfing primarily for the time spent with friends and family. He didn’t have an enemy except when he was officiating basketball or umpiring baseball. Del departed for the Promised Land on April 29, 2021 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He is preceded in death by his parents Louis and Esther, Patricia (sister), Norman (brother), and Gene (brother). He is survived by Avril, his wife of 62 years, his son Brian Beattie (Linda), daughter Dana (Beattie) Westphalen, son Roger Beattie: grandchildren Paul Beattie, Bert Beattie, Lori (Belisle) Grigsby, Jill (Westphalen) Rutledge, Amy (Westphalen) Kiley, Brandy (Beattie) Benton, Katy (Beattie) Brannon, Ashley (Beattie) Medina, and Mackenzie Beattie: and five great grandchildren. Del cherished memories with his friends and family. Please feel free to share your memories of Del on the Love Funeral Home website as we celebrate his life and the contributions he made to the community. A memorial has been established in Del’s name for the Limon Youth Baseball and Softball Program, P.O. Box 9, Limon, Colorado 80828. Memorial contributions can be made to: Youth Baseball and Softball Programs P.O. Box 9 Limon, CO 80828