10/12/2026
Stephen Dow Beckham was a noted scholar. He had a great impact on the formation of the Clarsop Nehalem Confederated Tribes. We share this post from the Neskowin Historical Foundation.
Stephen Dow Beckham, 1941-2026
We share with great sadness the news of Stephen Dow Beckham’s passing. Immediately following an October 9th presentation in Neskowin, Oregon, Beckham suffered a stroke from which he never recovered. He passed away peacefully on October 10, 2026, with his wife Patti by his side.
Beckham will be remembered in Neskowin for his vast knowledge of the area’s history, including his work on the Neskowin Historical Foundation’s two books: Neskowin, A Book of Found Photos, and Nechesne, Nestucca, and Siletz: Indians of the North-Central Oregon Coast. The latter, just-published title, his 25th authorship, was the topic of his October 9th slide and lecture presentation at Hawk Creek Gallery in Neskowin. Those in attendance will remember his in-depth historical overview of these Indian tribes’ lifestyles and customs when they were the only inhabitants of the Oregon Coast’s forests, valleys, and beaches.
Beckham’s vast repertoire of historical knowledge, personified by his instant recall of countless dates and names, will be sorely missed.

Stephen Dow Beckham, August 3, 2026, at his library
of personal manuscripts in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Source:
Neskowin Historical Foundation Board
Neskowin Historical Foundation offers published books on the area's history, its pioneers, and its native settlers.
