William W. Beatty (1964 graduation)

Obituary of William W. Beatty

William W. Beatty was born September 19, 1942, in Chicago, IL, to Clarence and Jean (Wood) Beatty. He died December 2, 2007, at MeritCare Palliative Care, after a brief struggle with cancer.

Bill grew up in the Chicago area. He earned his B.A. degree in Psychology from Yale University in 1964. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Psychology from University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1967 and 1969. He studied Neuropsychology as a Visiting Scholar at University of California, San Diego, in 1948-85.

Bill was a Professor of Psychology at North Dakota State University from 1969 to 1990. From 1990, until his retirement in 2004, he was a professor in the Biological Psychology Program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. There, he served as Director of Graduate Studies. He was Professor Emeritus at OUHSC and an adjunct faculty member at NDSU, until his death.

Bill was a professional educator and researcher whose studies focused on cognitive function and deficits. He had enormous respect and gratitude for the numerous patients and other subjects who participated in his research studies over the years. Bill was a prolific writer and had 243 publications in his field, between 1966 and 2007. He was an invited lecturer at professional conferences and meetings throughout the United States and Europe. He was a peer reviewer and member of editorial advisory boards for several professional journals. At OUHSC, he received the Provost’s Research Award for Senior Faculty and the Samuel Roberts Nobel Foundation Presidential Professor Award.

Bill touched many lives during his professional career. In recent weeks, a number of former students and colleagues have told him how much he had inspired them in their own professional careers. They considered him a mentor and a friend.

Bill was married to Patricia Ann (Spanenberger) Beatty, whom he met in graduate school. Bill and Pat joined the NDSU Psychology Department together in 1969.

Bill later married Karen Olson of Fargo. Although Bill had no surviving close relatives of his own, Karen’s large extended family quickly made Bill one of their own. He is truly survived by a large, loving family. After Bill retired, he and Karen decided to return to Fargo in 2005. Bill called this move from south to north “an unusual reverse migration.”

After returning to Fargo, Bill resumed his association with the NDSU Psychology Department. He volunteered at the Fargo Airport Information Desk. He was a member of the Fargo Golden K Kiwanis. He was a lifelong Chicago Cubs, Bears and Bulls fan.

Bill is survived by his wife, Karen; his beloved dogs, Woody and Mick; and many friends, family members and colleagues. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial Service: Thursday, December 6, 2007, at 3:00 PM, at Hanson-Runsvold Chapel, Fargo, ND. Burial: Riverside Cemetery, at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor’s choice or to the Roger Maris Cancer Center, Canine Companions for Independence or the Anne Carlson Center for Children.