SSG William "BJ" Beardsley

5/23/81 - 2/26/07
KIA Iraq US Army

Growing up BJ loved to do all the normal boy things, he loved to fish, play baseball, hunt, ride motorcycle and just about any activity that let him be outside. He was very protective of his little sister, Cassie, but still teased her and fought with her like normal siblings do. BJ loved to keep you guessing as to what he was up to and always loved to joke around with others – you could usually see it in his grin. When BJ graduated from high school he joined the army and for the next 3 ½ years was stationed in various places including Korea. In 2001 BJ met his wife, Stacy, at the base they were stationed at in Tennessee, where they were married. In 2002 they had their son, chance. After Chance was born they both decided to end their military career and move to Minnesota where BJ would work for his Dad and Moms excavating business, which he did for the next few years. In 2003 BJ and Stacy had their daughter Alexis who was the apple of her daddy’s eye. In 2005 BJ decided to re-enlist in the Army for several reasons but the biggest being he wanted his combat patch. BJ was deployed to Iraq in the fall of 2006; he loved what he was doing and felt he was doing what he could to protect his family and his country. BJ was very patriotic and spoke very openly about what this country meant to him. On February 26, 2007 BJ left for his 13th convoy mission in which he was the lead vehicle commander, on this mission his vehicle was struck by an IED that took his life.

BJ had a wonderfully warm, playful smile and is missed so much by many who knew and loved him

Portrait sponsored by:
Lance Cpl. Curtis M. Swenson Memorial Fund, Rochester, MN