Daniel Joseph Beshoar

Daniel J. Beshoar, beloved husband, father, grandfather, educator, outdoorsman, and writer, passed away peacefully at his home in Montrose, Colorado, on June 25, 2026, at the age of 85.

Dan was born on July 23, 1940, to Barron and Sally Beshoar in Denver, CO. He graduated from Regis High School before earning his degree from Regis University, where he began preparing for a career that would profoundly impact generations of students.

An innovative educator well ahead of his time, Dan dedicated his career to helping young people discover their potential. He began teaching in Silverton, CO, before a move to Montrose High School. At Centennial Middle School, he pioneered the UPS (Unlimited Potential School) Program, creating a "school within a school" for at-risk students or unengaged students. Centered on experiential education, the program recognized that students often learn best by doing, exploring, and discovering.

Dan's greatest passions naturally found their way into his classroom. He developed the highly popular Outdoor Skills class, introducing countless students to the outdoors, conservation, and self-reliance. He also created the Literary Heritage class, in which his love of reading and writing talent inspired students to appreciate literature and storytelling.

His vision extended far beyond the classroom walls. Through partnerships with the Youth Conservation Corps, the Bureau of Land Management, and members of the local community, Dan helped create an archaeological dig site at Centennial Middle School that became the centerpiece of a hands-on Colorado History curriculum for the UPS program. His ability to bring people together in support of meaningful educational experiences reflected both his creativity and his commitment to students.

Dan's connection to the outdoors extended well beyond education. During his summers, he served as a wildland firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, embracing the hard work and camaraderie of protecting the public lands he loved. After retiring from teaching, he returned to the forests in a new role as a Small Timber Sale Administrator with the U.S. Forest Service, where he continued his lifelong stewardship of the natural resources that had shaped so much of his life.

Outside of work, Dan found his greatest peace in the outdoors. He was an avid upland game and waterfowl hunter, passionate fly fisherman, and cherished spending time on the rivers and wild places of the American West. His adventures inspired numerous short stories published in outdoor magazines, allowing him to combine his love of nature with his gift for writing. Whether casting a fly into a quiet stream, walking behind bird dogs through autumn fields, or putting pen to paper, Dan found joy in the beauty and stories of the natural world.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sharon Beshoar (Cullerton); his brother, Barron Beshoar, and wife Wendy; his sons, Brian Beshoar, Barrett Beshoar and his wife, Carin, and Dwayne Beshoar and his wife, Stephanie; and his beloved grandchildren, William (Liam), Elizabeth, Rebecca, Helen, Mark, Olivia, Clara, Julia, and Jack. His family was his greatest source of pride, and he delighted in watching each new generation grow.

Dan will be remembered for his adventurous spirit, quiet wisdom, boundless curiosity, and unwavering belief that education should inspire students to experience the world, not simply read about it. Whether in a classroom, on a fire line, in the forests of the West, or beside a favorite trout stream, he lived a life defined by service, curiosity, and a profound respect for the natural world. His influence lives on in the countless students whose lives he changed, the family he cherished, the stories he wrote, and the rivers and mountains he loved so deeply.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Montrose Events Center, 648 S. 1st Street, Montrose, Colorado. Those who knew Dan are invited to gather and share stories at an informal gathering to honor a remarkable life dedicated to learning, adventure, family, and the enduring power of curiosity.

The family invites those wishing to honor Dan's memory to consider planting a tree through the U.S. Forest Service's Plant-A-Tree Program. Memorial trees may be dedicated in his honor by visiting the U.S. Forest Service Plant-A-Tree Program.