Phyllis D. Beam

Phyllis D. Beam passed away Monday, January 5th, under the care of Parson’s House Memory Care and Peaceful Hearts Hospice, Omaha, NE. Phyllis was born in Plainview, Nebraska on September 23, 1931 to Albert and Alvena Johnson. She married Bruce Beam on June 17, 1961 at Luther Memorial Chapel, Omaha, Nebraska. They were blessed with two children, Joni and Susan. 

Phyllis was a life-long educator having served 46 years in education. She started her teaching career in a one-room school house (kindergarten through 8th grade) in Plainview, Nebraska before moving to Sioux City, Iowa. She served as Principal for Ponca, Irvington, and Springville Elementary schools in Omaha. After retiring from Omaha Public Schools, she supervised student teachers from the University of Northern Iowa for five years and supervised Douglas County Rural teachers for two years. 

Phyllis enjoyed traveling, golfing, attending Nebraska Cornhusker football games, and spending the winter months in Lake Havasu, Arizona with Bruce. She was always on the go golfing, playing bridge and other card games, attending church groups, volunteering for Assistance League of Omaha, Operation School Bell, and assisting at the Thrift Store. She was a 50-year member of Delta Kappa Gamma society for key women educators and a member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), Omaha School Administrators Association (OSAA), Omaha Area Retired School Employees Association (OARSEA), and New Friends group. 

Her greatest joy was spending time with friends, family, and especially her grandkids and great grandkids. 

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband Bruce, parents Albert and Alvena Johnson, brother Dale Johnson, and sister Bernice Lenser. 

She is survived by her daughters Joni (Mark) Redford of Papillion, Nebraska and Sue (Scott) Fritz of Bennington, Nebraska. Grandchildren Tyler (Marissa) Fritz, Trevor Fritz, Cammie (Jacob) Hieserich, Cody (Kaylee) Redford, and Carly Redford. Great-grandchildren Scarlett and Barrett Fritz; Liam, Samuel, and Matthew Redford; and Evelyn Hieserich. 

The family of Phyllis would like to thank the staff and caregivers of Parson’s House Assisted Living and Memory Care and Peaceful Hearts Hospice for the love and support they gave to our mom. 

Memorials are suggested to the Omaha Public Schools Foundation or the Holistic Hearts Foundation (Peaceful Hearts Hospice).