Obituary of Reginald C. Beland

Reginald Cleophase Beland died peacefully at the Maine Veterans’ Home on January 5, 2026.  He was born near Thetford Mines, Quebec on March 9, 1929, the second of 11 children born to Antonio and Irene Beland.  His family emigrated to Maine when he was still a toddler.  His parents raised their family on a dairy farm in Augusta.  Reggie served in the U.S. Navy from 1948-1952, and was a combat veteran of the Korean War.  In September 1953, he married Fernande Turcotte, of Thetford Mines, Quebec in a double ceremony with her twin sister Rollande and his cousin Fernand Lettre.  Reggie enrolled in and graduated from Maine Vocational Technical Institute in South Portland, with a degree in Industrial Electricity.  Reggie and Fern returned to Augusta, where they raised their two sons, Kenneth and Michael.   He worked as an appliance repairman in Augusta and Farmington for 15 years, followed by 15 years as Central Maine Power local representative on Islesboro (the do everything man).  They retired to the Belfast area in1989, but Reggie stayed active with building projects, golf with Fern, and time with their sons’ families.  Fern died in 2016 after 62 years of marriage.  In 2022, Reggie moved to the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta, where he was well cared for until his death at age 96.  Reginald is survived by brothers Normand and Romeo Beland; his sons Kenneth and wife Judy Burk, Michael and wife Tracy Goller; three grandsons Luke, Chris, and Jason Beland; and great-granddaughter Phoebe Beland.  He was predeceased by his wife Fern; brothers Ronald, Laurent, Armand, and Gerard; and sisters Gisele, Juliette, Aliette, and Lucille. 

Reggie is remembered as a devoted husband and father.  His siblings knew him as a man who could build or repair almost anything.  Over their life together, Reggie and Fern built houses in Augusta, Islesboro, Belmont and Belfast.  He passed on these skills to his sons, and learned new skills that matched their individual interests.  Ken loved hunting and fishing, so Reggie spent many days afield with him in the woods and waters of Maine.  Mike grew up close to the ocean, with an interest in sailing, so Reggie and Mike learned sailing and boat repairs together.  Reggie will be interred at the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery in Augusta in April, followed by a family memorial gathering at the Maine Veterans’ Home.  Rest in Peace, Dad.