1922
Francis
2012
Francis Beets
April 2, 1922 — March 18, 2012
Francis "Lee" Beets, 89, of Prairie Village, KS passed way on March 18, 2012 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center. Lee was born on April 2, 1922 on his father's farm in Miami County, Kansas, approximately 8 ½ miles west of Paola, Kansas. The farm was originally purchased by Lee's grandfather in 1880. Lee spent the first 18 years of his life on the farm with his father, William Francis Beets and mother, Nellie Hazel Bryan, and two sisters, Marybelle and Betty. On graduation from Paola High School in 1940, he went to Kansas City to attend business college and work. He served in the U.S. Navy for 3 ½ years. After one year overseas, he was chosen by the Navy to attend the V12 Navy Educational Program. In two years he obtained a Bachelor's Degree from Tulane University. On June 22, 1945, he married Dorothy Lorraine Shelton of Paola. They had two children, Randall Lee and Pamela Lee. Immediately after marriage, Lee attended Harvard School of Business in the V12 Program until the war ended, and later added to his education with insurance and accounting courses at Rockhurst University of Missouri at Kansas City. He obtained his CPA designation in 1948 and one of the first CPCU designations in 1956.
Lee spent 39 of his 46-year business career in the insurance field. Years prior to creating a new company, Lee worked in public accounting, managed a manufacturing company with international sales at two insurance carriers, managed general agencies, and premium finance and data processing operations. The first of 1970 he founded Financial Guardian Group, an insurance brokerage organization, which grew from scratch to one of national ranking with offices in principle cities of the U.S., as well as several foreign subsidiaries. During his 15-year tenure as Chairman of the Board and CEO, 85 mergers and acquisitions were consummated in the building of a national insurance organization, resulting in the firm becoming ranked second largest privately-owned insurance brokerage firm and fifteenth largest of all types of this ownership in the U.S. at that time. This firm was eventually sold to an international brokerage firm. After retiring from Financial Guardian, Lee and a friend, created a local area insurance operation. This firm sold to a large savings and loan organization and Lee headed up the newly combined insurance organization before he retired in June, 1991. After retiring, Lee spent time in the areas of finance and family. He wrote three books on the genealogy of his and his wife's familes. He spent much time playing the guitar and singing. Music was very important to him.
Lee and his wife had been members of the Village Presbyterian Church since 1956. He was a lifetime member of the American Institute of Accountants, Society of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, and served as President of the Kansas City Chapter of CPCU in 1960-61 and served several years on the Budget and Finance Committee. He also served on the Annals (publication) committee of the American Institute for Property and Casualty Underwriters, Inc. He was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge, was a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and served as President of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity at Tulane University. Lee was listed in Who's Who publications for several years.
Lee is preceded in death by his father, mother, his two sisters, Marybelle Mae Champ and Betty Jean Frank. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Lorraine Beets, a son, Randall Lee Beets and wife Nancy, of Omaha, NE, a daughter, Pamela Lee Kermoade of Prairie Village, KS, six grandchildren, Nathan Alan Lankford and wife Deedra, Carrie Leanne Gorges, Michael William Beets and wife, Violet, David Brett Kermoade, Lauren Nicole Kermoade, Whitney Ruthann Beets, and 10 great-grandchildren, Myko, Adan, Oliver, Savannah, Chester, Macabee, Marlowe, Oscar, Caden, and Maddux.
Lee has always said that any success he may have achieved was largely due to the love and support of his wife, family, and to his many talented and successful associates. Lee and Dorothy celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on June 22, 20l1.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, March, 22nd, 5-7 PM, at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel. A Funeral service will be help on Friday, March 23rd, 9:00 AM, also at Johnson County Chapel, with entombment to follow at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road | Prairie Village, Kansas 66208 .Fond memories and condolences
for the family may be left at
www.johnsoncountychapel.com
(Arrangements by D.W. Newcomer's Sons
Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66210. (913) 451-1860
Lee spent 39 of his 46-year business career in the insurance field. Years prior to creating a new company, Lee worked in public accounting, managed a manufacturing company with international sales at two insurance carriers, managed general agencies, and premium finance and data processing operations. The first of 1970 he founded Financial Guardian Group, an insurance brokerage organization, which grew from scratch to one of national ranking with offices in principle cities of the U.S., as well as several foreign subsidiaries. During his 15-year tenure as Chairman of the Board and CEO, 85 mergers and acquisitions were consummated in the building of a national insurance organization, resulting in the firm becoming ranked second largest privately-owned insurance brokerage firm and fifteenth largest of all types of this ownership in the U.S. at that time. This firm was eventually sold to an international brokerage firm. After retiring from Financial Guardian, Lee and a friend, created a local area insurance operation. This firm sold to a large savings and loan organization and Lee headed up the newly combined insurance organization before he retired in June, 1991. After retiring, Lee spent time in the areas of finance and family. He wrote three books on the genealogy of his and his wife's familes. He spent much time playing the guitar and singing. Music was very important to him.
Lee and his wife had been members of the Village Presbyterian Church since 1956. He was a lifetime member of the American Institute of Accountants, Society of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, and served as President of the Kansas City Chapter of CPCU in 1960-61 and served several years on the Budget and Finance Committee. He also served on the Annals (publication) committee of the American Institute for Property and Casualty Underwriters, Inc. He was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge, was a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and served as President of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity at Tulane University. Lee was listed in Who's Who publications for several years.
Lee is preceded in death by his father, mother, his two sisters, Marybelle Mae Champ and Betty Jean Frank. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Lorraine Beets, a son, Randall Lee Beets and wife Nancy, of Omaha, NE, a daughter, Pamela Lee Kermoade of Prairie Village, KS, six grandchildren, Nathan Alan Lankford and wife Deedra, Carrie Leanne Gorges, Michael William Beets and wife, Violet, David Brett Kermoade, Lauren Nicole Kermoade, Whitney Ruthann Beets, and 10 great-grandchildren, Myko, Adan, Oliver, Savannah, Chester, Macabee, Marlowe, Oscar, Caden, and Maddux.
Lee has always said that any success he may have achieved was largely due to the love and support of his wife, family, and to his many talented and successful associates. Lee and Dorothy celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on June 22, 20l1.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, March, 22nd, 5-7 PM, at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel. A Funeral service will be help on Friday, March 23rd, 9:00 AM, also at Johnson County Chapel, with entombment to follow at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road | Prairie Village, Kansas 66208 .Fond memories and condolences
for the family may be left at
www.johnsoncountychapel.com
(Arrangements by D.W. Newcomer's Sons
Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66210. (913) 451-1860
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