John David Beardsley, 69

John David Beardsley passed away on April 9, 2024, at Logan Health in Kalispell after a short illness.

John was born March 24, 1955, in Kalispell, the son of Richard and Edith (Albrecht) Beardsley. He attended Montford and other District 5 schools and Flathead High School.

John spent a few summers working on a fishing boat in Alaska. John’s later career found him working at Plum Creek Timber Co., where he retired early due to health issues. At that juncture in his life, John became a grateful recipient of a life-changing kidney donation.

John had a wry sense of humor that popped up in the most endearing ways. Even as he was uncomfortable and dealing with his health challenges, he could strike up a conversation with the nursing staff or pull off a sweet one-liner that had them smiling and chuckling.

John loved to grill and cook — with jerky and sausage as his specialty. John would search high and low for that one special spice or unique ingredient or kitchen gadget to make his recipe sing. He will be remembered for sharing his culinary creations with friends and family. His other favorite pastimes included fishing and four-wheeling. 

The family would like to thank John’s neighbors for their friendship and care through the years, and for their appreciation of his gardening skills (tomatoes and peppers were some of his favorites), as well as his care and feeding of the neighborhood birds. John had several cats along the way that he adored. He was generous in his support of the Flathead County Animal Shelter so that many other animals would be well cared for.

John was predeceased by his parents, and nephew and lifelong friend, Tad Peterson. John is survived by sister Marilyn (Beardsley) Peterson, Kalispell; and brothers Donald (Nancy) Beardsley of Missoula and Richard Beardsley of Kalispell; as well as nieces Tammy (Wayne) Grilley, Dawn Jackson (Vance), Daralyn (Marty) Secrest, Claudette Beardsley, and Jodie Knight; and nephews Tom Peterson and Richard Beardsley, Jr. and their families.

A celebration of life will be held in early summer.