William George "Bill" Beaulieu
October 10, 1946 - May 25, 2026
Born in Wabasha, Minnesota ' Died in Rochester, Minnesota

Bill was born in 1946, a true member of the Baby Boomer generation. After graduating in 1964, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in the Vietnam War. He was motivated by a deep sense of duty, once saying he served so another son might not have to leave their family. After completing two tours of duty, he returned home to Wabasha.

In December 1968, Bill married Mary Virginia "Ginger" Johnston. They spent a brief time in Washington, D.C., where Bill worked at the Pentagon learning, what he liked to call, those "new-fangled computers." In 1971, they settled in Rochester, where he began his long career at Mayo Clinic. In their 14 years together, before Ginger's untimely death, they welcomed four daughters: Angelique, Nicole, Chantal, and Michon.

In 1985, Bill married Pamela "Pam" Easter, blending their families and welcoming Jennifer, Eric, and Lindsay. Their household grew once more with the arrival of William George (BJ) on Bill's 40th birthday in 1986. With eight children, the Beaulieu clan quickly became a lively, close-knit crew of ten.

Many summers were spent at Fernwood, in northern Minnesota at the beloved cabin vacation spot, where Bill taught his kids how to fish, often reminding them to "hook the fish, not the dad!" Though a self-proclaimed small-town boy, he embraced travel with Pam, not only across the country but also overseas.

Bill enjoyed simple pleasures and, most importantly, time spent together with others. He was always ready to recommend a good place to eat, share stories from his latest fishing trip, or offer a truly great hug. He loved card and board games, which usually brought plenty of laughter and a bit of chaos, though Pam eventually drew the line at playing spoons. Over the years, his passion for metal detecting uncovered countless treasures, from coins and wedding rings to military buttons. He fulfilled a lifelong dream of metal detecting in Great Britain, mudlarking the Thames River bed at low tide and detecting the farm fields in the English countryside, where he uncovered Roman coins, and numerous artifacts including a Roman cloak brooch and several 14th century British clay pipes.

Bill dedicated 43 years to Mayo Clinic, spending many years in the statistics and research areas of Information Technology. He took great pride in his work and felt honored to support the physicians and researchers who worked to improve patient care and discover new treatments. Upon retiring in 2014, he wasn't happy sitting still and missed socializing outside of the house, so he funded his fishing trips by working at Elite Custom Solutions. He also enjoyed volunteering, along with Pam, for the Steubenville Rochester Youth Conference for eighteen years.

Throughout the years, one of Bill's greatest joys was being surrounded by the people he loved most. Last summer's gathering to celebrate Bill and Pam's 40th wedding anniversary will always be treasured. Children and grandchildren surprised them by piling out of a windowless, hot, stuffy trailer. Bill said it best in that moment: "I can't believe we're together. I didn't think it would happen again in my lifetime." He enjoyed many hours with his extended family and dear friends with whom he shared countless laughs, stories, including "fish tales", and lively moments.

Bill was never one to seek the spotlight and preferred being in the background rather than the center of attention. He wasn't the loudest voice in the room, but his quiet presence could always be felt. He showed his love through his actions, his reliability, and his support for those around him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kermit and Tessie Beaulieu and his first spouse, Ginger.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Pam; and his children: Jennifer Horton; Eric (Alexi) Howie; Angelique (Andrew) Niekamp; Nicole Cheri; Chantal Beaulieu; Michon (Shannon) Dohlman; Lindsay (Jorge) Gamino; and BJ (Amanda) Beaulieu. He also leaves behind 19 grandchildren who brought him immense pride and joy: Ryan, Conor, Aerin, Caitlin, Dylan, Anthony, Vaughn, Ronan, Lyla, Violet, Ava, Amelie, Liam, Cora, Alana, Alex, Zack, Lucas, Preston, and his sister, Sharon Radatz. In addition, he was a cherished uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Sunday, June 14 from 4:00-7:00 pm at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Rochester, MN, with the Rosary beginning at 4:00 pm. A time of sharing and remembrance will follow the Rosary. Family and friends are invited to share memories and stories and may wish to come prepared with a favorite memory, reflection, or special story celebrating Bill's life. Holy Mass will begin at 11:00 am Monday, June 15, at St. Francis, with visitation one hour prior to Mass.

Graveside services with military honors, will be held at 3:30 pm, at St. Felix Cemetery in Wabasha, MN.