Don Beesley was born October 2, 1937, in Ogden, Utah, to Ira and Afton Beesley. He graduated from Weber High School in 1955. He then graduated from Weber Junior College with an associate degree in 1957. His family moved to Bountiful in 1957.

He served an LDS mission to the Southern States Mission from 1957 to 1959. He joined the Army Reserve and served active duty from March to September 1960. He met Annette Childs and they married on September 1, 1961, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah, a Master’s degree from BYU, and his Doctorate in education from the University of Southern California.

He and Annette are the parents of seven children: Caron (Curtis) Breitweiser, Sharolyn (David) Blume, Julie (Norman) Young, Brenda (Don) Lore, Lisa (Brent) Steed, Duane Beesley, and Suzanne (Michael) Reid, as well as 29 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren (with another expected in February).

He taught for the Church Education System for 38 years, teaching at the Ogden LDS Institute for most of those years. During that time, he also had the opportunity to teach at the BYU Jerusalem Center three times, as well as teaching in Calgary, Canada for three years. He has directed 28 tours to the Holy Land and plans to do one more in 2020.

He has served in bishoprics, as a high councilor, in a stake presidency, and his favorite calling-as a gospel doctrine teacher. He and his wife have served as ordinance workers in the Ogden Temple since 1999. They served together on three missions. He is currently serving as a sealer in the Ogden Temple.