Steven J. Bekendam '75 Memorial Rugby Fund
Steven (Steve) John Bekendam, 69, passed away on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, in Bowie, Texas. He was born March 13, 1953, in Long Beach, California to John and Lena Boersma Bekendam.
Steve, the oldest of eight kids, grew up on a dairy in Southern California. After high school, he moved to Texas and attended Texas A&M University. While at Texas A&M, he met the love of his life, Lesley, and played football and rugby. One of his proudest moments was being a part of the 1974 National Championship Rugby team.
Steve was a hard-working and loving father to his kids and grandkids. The most important priority in life was his faith in the Lord, which spilled over into every facet of his life and left a mark on all those around him. Steve attended the Triple Cross Cowboy Church in Granbury.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Lesley Drew Bekendam in December 2016.
Steve is survived by his daughters, Lynsey Cunningham and husband Charlie, Addie Enlow and husband Blake; son, Bo Bekendam and wife Andrea; ten grandchildren; sisters and brothers, Karen Bekendam, Teri Skipworth, Lori Hessing, Larry Bekendam, Tim Bekendam, Shirlee Rivera, and Jolene Mayfield; numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 3:00 PM, Saturday, December 17, 2022, at Holly Hills Memorial Park in Granbury with Pastor Gary Leonard officiating. The address is 1909 Weatherford Hwy, Granbury, TX 76048.
To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Steve, please visit the Wiley Funeral Home Tribute Store.
To donate here to his Memorial Rugby Fund, please click one of the "Send a Gift" buttons on this page.
Steve was inducted into the Texas A&M Rugby Hall of Fame on March 24, 2018.
Steve’s tenure as a player is unprecedented. From his contributions to Texas A&M winning the ’74 Collegiate Rugby National Championship, through all the winning seasons thereafter, Steve’s contributions on and off the pitch aided in the club’s success during that time period.
Steve, from all of us who had the pleasure to be on the pitch with you or know you,
we love you.
Below you can choose your giving level or enter your own as you wish. If you would like to make a donation to this Memorial Fund of more than $5,000 or an Endowed Level of $25,000+ please contact us.
If you would like to save the ~3% fee of online processing you can make a check made out to "Old Maroon RFC" with "Steve Bekendam '75 Memorial Rugby Fund" in the memo and mail it to:
Old Maroon RFC
c/o Doug Chester
6312 Southern Cross Dr
College Station, TX 77845