Background
He was born in Horten as a son of laborer January Egil Bekkevold and housewife Evy Bekkevold.
He was born in Horten as a son of laborer January Egil Bekkevold and housewife Evy Bekkevold.
He finished his secondary education in Horten in 1982, and attended the University of Oslo from 1983 to 1991.
Here, he received the candidate.theol. degree as well as undergoing the practical-theological seminary. He worked as a field priest during his compulsory military service from 1991 to 1992, and then became curate in Gjerpen. In 2005 he was promoted to vicar in Borgestad in Skien.
He was elected to the Parliament of Norway from Telemark in 2009.
Bekkevold has also been active in Young Men’s Christian Association/Young Women’s Christian Association locally.
Bekkevold became involved in politics as a member of Skien city council from 1999 to 2009, the last two years in the executive committee. He chaired the local chapter from his party from 2007 to 2008, and the regional chapter in Telemark from 2008.
From 2003 to 2007 he was also a member of Telemark county council. He became a member of the Standing Committee on Local Government and Public Administration, Like his entire party group, he also joined Israels Venner på Stortinget. He was a board member of Teater Ibsen from 2004 to 2008, and the county library from 2007.