To children she was “Aunt Bea, the Story Lady.” The sick and elderly tuned in to “Aunt Bea’s Request for Shut-ins,” and VIP visitors to Phoenix were welcomed into thousands of homes through “Studio Bea.” She became the voice of Arizona, broadcasting from KHEP—“Keep Heralding Eternal Promises.”

The woman who was to change the face of Christian radio in Arizona was born in 1918 in Cicero, Illinois. Raised and schooled in Cicero, her life’s direction was altered dramatically when she married John Hoeksema. John was a firefighter, and in 1954 he and another fireman were caught in an elevator during a fire. From the smoke inhalation he developed emphysema, and the family moved to a warmer, drier climate in Phoenix.

While waiting for their home to be built, the Hoeksems met Rhiney Swar. John and Rhiney became fast friends, and decided to invest some money in a Christian organization. A radio station owned by Bethany Bible Church was for sale, and KHEP joined the airwaves in 1955.

It was a family venture—John was Business and Station Manager, Bea typed the radio logs and did the bookkeeping. Seven years later John passed away. Bea chose to stay at KHEP and join the on-air staff, a decision that was to impact tens of thousands of listeners, earn the station countless awards for achievement, and ultimately bring KGCB Radio Shine to Northern and Central Arizona listeners.

Although Bea’s voice is no longer heard on air, her presence is visible to all who tour the station, see her photograph displayed, and meet the on-air personalities as they broadcast from “Studio Bea!”