Michael Edward Beardsley

Mike was born on April 30, 1951, in Watertown, South Dakota, to parents O.E. Beardsley (Deceased) and Alice Carney Beardsley (Deceased), and physically passed away on August 20, 2022, at Hospice House in Rapid City, South Dakota, with his wife by his side. Mike was happily married to Kit Beardsley. He was the proud uncle of Michael S. Beardsley (Nicole) and Shaye E. Beardsley, and great uncle to Carson and Weston Beardsley. His first and truest best friends are brothers Pete Beardsley (Deceased) and Steven C. Beardsley.

Mike considered his five Kenfield cousins as the sisters he always wanted. He shared his adventures and sought their female perspective on whatever was happening in his life. Cousins Karli Kenfield MD (deceased); Jill Thurman, Nokomis, FL; April Kenfield, Chicago, IL; Laurie Kelleher MD, Riverside, IL an Amy Andrie, Shoreline, WA.

Mike graduated from Watertown High School in 1969. He found that he could chat with anyone and about anything and pull from his vast knowledge of research to become the South Dakota State Champion in debate. He was also a South Dakota State Champion in Extemporaneous Speaking and was a member of the Watertown High School Golf team.

Mike wrote that he began working in the 50's and 60's for spending money with jobs in the neighborhood pulling weeds, mowing lawns, raking leaves and shoveling snow. All jobs he gave up as soon as he could.

Mike attended college at the University of South Dakota and graduated in 1973 cum laude, a proud achievement. At USD, Mike was a proud member of the Green House Gang, a colorful band of roommates, who composed articles for the school paper covering their musings, anecdotes and opinions. This group still thrives to this day in their correspondence to each other. Mike's college summers were spent building grain bins and large grain handling systems with his childhood friend John, traveling near and far, gathering more fodder for their storybook.

In 1975, Mike started his news career with KSFY TV, Sioux Falls, as a reporter, photographer, producer and weekend anchor.  In 1977, he moved to KIII in Corpus Christi, doing all the jobs needed to put a broadcast together. In 1979, at KUTV, in Salt Lake City, Mike was promoted to Executive Producer.  In a few short years, Mike became a news producer, executive producer then promoted to news director.

As news director of various large venues to include Salt Lake City, UT, Philadelphia, PA, Tampa and Miami, FL, Phoenix, AZ, (set record of Emmys won) finishing his affiliate newsroom leadership in Sacramento, CA, at KXTV. When he had to retire due to health reasons, Mike was able to fulfill another dream, island living.

Then in August 1998 to August 1999, Mike was requested by the US Embassy to teach journalists in Bangkok, Thailand, starting his worldwide news career.

Following leadership positions as a news director stateside, governing and controlling up to 115 employees, he began teaching television news abroad. Not a man to say no to an adventure and with his need to instruct and follow his beliefs for a freedom of speech movement, Mike traveled to Eastern and Central Europe, as an International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) fellow. Mike taught his eager "students' (photojournalists, editors, reporters and on-air talent) how to establish stories as free press and television news industry professionals in such restricted countries and governments. He taught in the Eastern European countries of Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Moldova and Serbia. and the Czech Republic. Additionally, he taught in Cairo, Egypt and Nairobi, Kenya, Africa.

In 2001, Mike received a ICFJ Knight Fellowship "chair" at Louisiana State University to teach journalism/ethics, an advanced degree program. After the first year of teaching at LSU, he was asked to extend his "chair position" to a second and third year.

Mike travelled the world, not only for work, but also in his desire to see and meet people of all parts of the world. His exploration of Central America, centered mostly in Roatan, an island off the coast of Honduras. He even drove his vehicle and a small boat through Mexico and Central America to reach the coast of Honduras so that he could navigate this small vessel from the mainland of Honduras to Roatan. He made it but such a feat was never attempted again.

Mike visited every continent except Antarctica and the US state of Alaska.

Mike was an avid hunter, fisherman, and golfer. But no one was a more vociferous reader than Mike. His knowledge and memory of authors, content, dates, details and adventures were second to none.

Mike Beardsley endured 43 surgeries in his lifetime, all of which he faced with optimism and shared his positivity with his doctors and care staff. He could recite the dates and times of each procedure. His memory did not fade one bit even after he experienced two brain operations in 2021.

Politically, Mike was never afraid to voice his opinions and fiercely backed those opinions with facts and arguments that were vehemently expressed in print and conversations.  If you were to Google Charming or Charismatic, Mike's photo would appear.

His adventurous side did cause some family strain at times. Through the end of high school, he began to grow his hair and protest the war in Vietnam, which he believed to be a stupid and ridiculous endeavor. Mike left college and took a weekend trip to participate in protests in Boston, Massachusetts. He hitchhiked to Boston and was present when the protest became a riot.

Mike's adventures throughout the world are legendary. He mostly travelled alone, somehow adapting to various languages, customs and political mores. You would never find any moss on this rolling stone!

Mike and Kit moved to Rapid City to be near his family, closer to many friends and his incredible team of doctors and nurses. To all, we are extremely grateful for your care, expertise, support and love.

Mike Beardsley led a full and beautiful life. He was a tremendous brother, uncle, great uncle, husband and friend. Mike loved his wife, family, friends, colleagues, good food, telling stories, being outside and music. His advice and loyalty will be missed by all that knew him. May his memory be eternal.

Huge and sincere thanks to Mike's Monument health care team and to the incredible compassionate care with dignity to the Hospice House "love" team.

Mike's corneas were donated through the Dakota Lions Sight and Health donor program. Donations and Support would be greatly appreciated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for Research and Support for Families at CFF.Org.

A celebration of Mike's life will be held at a later date.