Dennis K. Beckman

Dennis K. Beckman passed away peacefully at home under hospice and his sister Deb’s care in Shreveport, Louisiana on September 25, 2025 after 82 years of adventure here on Earth. Even during 3 years of living with bone cancer, he never gave up on finding joy and living life to the fullest.

Dennis was born October 11, 1942 in Lafayette, Louisiana to Mike and Ethel Beckman. His parents, older sister Micky and he moved to Shreveport in 1945 while his father pursued a career in the Petroleum Exploration industry. They were active at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

He attended South Highlands Elementary School, Broadmoor Junior High School, and C.E. Byrd High School. He played trombone in the Byrd Band which had the distinction, in his senior year, of playing in the famous annual Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California on New Year’s Day, 1960.

Dennis grew up in a “Father Knows Best”/ “Leave it to Beaver” home environment, with amazing parents and siblings who stayed close knit throughout their lives even while living around the world.

He received his B.S. degree in Horticulture and Master’s in Landscape Architecture/Urban Planning from LSU in Baton Rouge. After graduation, he married his college sweetheart, Sharron Schaffer, and they had a son, Stefan. He designed local and regional parks in Nevada and Hawaii and, while a Captain in the Army in San Francisco serving as one of the first military Environmental Planners, was involved in developing the concept and guidelines for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which was later adopted by California to become the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

In 1973, with his partner, Scott Butts, and a total investment of $200, he created The Enchanted Crystal in San Francisco. This special gallery/store became a beloved destination for 42 years on Union Street. Dennis and Scoty introduced the city and the world to their magic of rainbow crystals and the healing power of quartz crystal and other stones. They reintroduced vintage costume jewelry, dragons, fairies, unicorns, and treasures from around the world.

Dennis was on the Board of Directors and served as President of the Union Street (Merchants) Association for over 38 years, where he created the San Francisco/Union Street Easter Parade and Spring Celebration, which ran for 26 years, as well as its Fantasy of Lights holiday lighting of the street.

An endlessly inspired and creative person, his ever-changing fantasy store windows and décor won awards, and he loved creating fantasy masks, bridal headpieces, and outrageous hats for his family and friends to wear at the San Francisco Easter Parade.

Dennis believed in making every day an adventure – whether in his beloved adopted San Francisco or his hometown of Shreveport. He enjoyed traveling around the United States, including his parents’ original home area in North Dakota. He traveled to over 30 countries, including favorite places of Bali, Thailand, Paris, Morocco, and Greece with Scoty, family and friends. Because he lived such a blessed life, he believed in giving back and loved working with orphanages or those hurt by natural disasters, especially overseas.

While he loved to travel the world and felt totally at home in Hawaii, he loved coming home to his adopted city of San Francisco. He also loved living the last 10 years of his life in his hometown of Shreveport. In 2015, Dennis started working at his sister Deb’s unique gift shop, The Enchanted Garden, on Line Avenue. He continued making individual unique masks, crowns and hats for Mardi Gras, Easter and other occasions including Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. Over the years in Shreveport many articles have been written about “The Mask Man”. In 2019, he was elected to be Mardi Gras King for the Krewe of Highland. Dennis and Deb enjoyed supporting the community in art, symphony and theatre, seeing a total of over 200 plays together, locally and on Broadway.

In 2019, Dennis had an exhibit of over 100 masks at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum where patrons could come and try on masks and boas, take pictures, and make fun memories. The next year, he filled the atrium with dozens of incredible hats and fascinators he created. He later became a board member at the museum for many years.

He is preceded in death by his father, Michael W. Beckman; mother, Ethel Beckman; his former wife, Sharron S. Zeisman; and the love of his life for 42 years, Scoty Butts. He will be missed by his son, Stefan Beckman (Kris Togias) of New York City; Stefan’s sisters, Tiffany Halfon of Houston, TX and Shoshana Pereyo of Portland, OR; sister, Michaelene Flasch of Tulsa, OK; brother, Gary Beckman (Valerie Chang) of Las Vegas; sister, Deb Beckman Cockrell (James Cockrell) of Shreveport; nephews, Michael Flasch, Kevin Flasch, Jonathan Cockrell, and Bryce Beckman; niece, Sedona Beckman; great-nieces, Kyla and Alexandra Flasch; and his Enchanted Crystal and Enchanted Garden families.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials may be made to the Caddo–Bossier Cancer Foundation League, Airline Ambassadors International, or Mercy Ships.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Kevin Gallagher for his compassionate care and guidance. They also would like to thank his caregivers: Tom McKissick, Ezette Bates, Constance Bryant, and Cherry Holden and the staff at Bristol Hospice, especially Sara Wilkerson.

A Celebration of His Life will be held between 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Sunday, November 9, 2025 at the Woman’s Department Club, 802 Margaret Pl., Shreveport, Louisiana. A special time to share stories about Dennis will begin at 1:30 p.m.