Ralph K. Beier, much loved husband, father and grandfather, as well as successful businessman, rancher and realtor, passed away Feb. 12, 2008, at his home, due to congestive heart failure, at the age of 91.
He was a quiet, determined, hardworking man of vision and good judgment. One of his friends remarked about him "When Ralph says he will do something, you can count on him."
He was born to Abraham John and Cora Katherine (Boyer) Beier on the family farm near Beach, N.D. Even at an early age, he was a hard worker and thrifty. In addition to working on the farm while growing up, he also delivered groceries for Miller's Grocery in Beach, dug coal at a strip mine, and picked and sold seeds from Russian Olive Trees. Ralph saved his earnings and paid his way through Interstate Business College in Fargo, N.D. By taking extra courses and working hard, he graduated from a two-year program in 18 months.
In 1939, after several years of working for the City of Fargo and the Northern Pacific Railroad, Ralph struck out on his own. He opened his first enterprise, Beier's Tire Store in Sidney. A few years later, he started an Oliver Farm Equipment business in Sidney. Ralph also opened and operated a Goodyear Tire Store in Miles City for several years during the mid-1940s. His customers knew Ralph to be dependable when they were in need. During harvest, he often delivered tires to farmers in their fields with flat tires on their harvesting equipment.
Solveg Espeland began to work for Ralph as bookkeeper at the tire store in 1940 and continued as permanent soul mate and partner. They were married in Sidney, Jan. 1, 1941, and shared many joyful adventures. Their two children, Peggy and Denny, were born in Sidney.
Ralph and Solveg sold the tire and implement businesses in 1949 and bought a ranch in Western Montana, on Jack Creek near Ennis. They raised cattle, sheep and crops on the ranch until 1953, when they sold the ranch and moved back to Sidney. Ralph resumed ownership of the tire business and rebuilt the business. A few years later, he once again sold the tire store.
In the following years, Ralph established an active and successful real estate business in Sidney. He also purchased and operated a producing oil well, a trailer court and, with several partners, two farms south of Sidney. Looking forward to retirement and less stress, he sold his businesses and worked for Sunrise Equipment as their accountant during the mid-1970s.
Ralph and Solveg retired and moved to Billings in 1979, where he remained active, swimming laps each afternoon and visiting with friends until a few years ago, when he quit driving.
Ralph was a Charter and Life Member of both the Elks and Moose Clubs in Sidney and an Associate Member of the Elks in Billings. He was the last surviving Charter Member of the Sidney Moose Lodge. His recreational interests included traveling, flying, hunting and fishing. Ralph got his private pilot's license in the mid-1940s and owned several airplanes, including a Globe-Swift and a Balanca. Ralph and Solveg made four trips to Alaska to visit their children. He enjoyed fishing in Alaska with Denny and was proud of the 65 pound King Salmon he caught on the Kenai River in 1979. He was also glad to have been able to visit Prudhoe Bay and Cook Inlet oilfields in Alaska with Denny.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Solveg; son, Denny (Jan) Beier of Spokane, Wash.; one granddaughter, Brooke Beier of Spokane; two grandsons, Brad Beier of Beaverton, Ore., and Blake (Elisabeth) Beier of Honolulu. He was predeceased by his daughter, Peggy Beier; his parents; and brother, Arthur Beier of Beach.
Cremation has taken place. A private family celebration of his life will be held at a later time.
He was a quiet, determined, hardworking man of vision and good judgment. One of his friends remarked about him "When Ralph says he will do something, you can count on him."
He was born to Abraham John and Cora Katherine (Boyer) Beier on the family farm near Beach, N.D. Even at an early age, he was a hard worker and thrifty. In addition to working on the farm while growing up, he also delivered groceries for Miller's Grocery in Beach, dug coal at a strip mine, and picked and sold seeds from Russian Olive Trees. Ralph saved his earnings and paid his way through Interstate Business College in Fargo, N.D. By taking extra courses and working hard, he graduated from a two-year program in 18 months.
In 1939, after several years of working for the City of Fargo and the Northern Pacific Railroad, Ralph struck out on his own. He opened his first enterprise, Beier's Tire Store in Sidney. A few years later, he started an Oliver Farm Equipment business in Sidney. Ralph also opened and operated a Goodyear Tire Store in Miles City for several years during the mid-1940s. His customers knew Ralph to be dependable when they were in need. During harvest, he often delivered tires to farmers in their fields with flat tires on their harvesting equipment.
Solveg Espeland began to work for Ralph as bookkeeper at the tire store in 1940 and continued as permanent soul mate and partner. They were married in Sidney, Jan. 1, 1941, and shared many joyful adventures. Their two children, Peggy and Denny, were born in Sidney.
Ralph and Solveg sold the tire and implement businesses in 1949 and bought a ranch in Western Montana, on Jack Creek near Ennis. They raised cattle, sheep and crops on the ranch until 1953, when they sold the ranch and moved back to Sidney. Ralph resumed ownership of the tire business and rebuilt the business. A few years later, he once again sold the tire store.
In the following years, Ralph established an active and successful real estate business in Sidney. He also purchased and operated a producing oil well, a trailer court and, with several partners, two farms south of Sidney. Looking forward to retirement and less stress, he sold his businesses and worked for Sunrise Equipment as their accountant during the mid-1970s.
Ralph and Solveg retired and moved to Billings in 1979, where he remained active, swimming laps each afternoon and visiting with friends until a few years ago, when he quit driving.
Ralph was a Charter and Life Member of both the Elks and Moose Clubs in Sidney and an Associate Member of the Elks in Billings. He was the last surviving Charter Member of the Sidney Moose Lodge. His recreational interests included traveling, flying, hunting and fishing. Ralph got his private pilot's license in the mid-1940s and owned several airplanes, including a Globe-Swift and a Balanca. Ralph and Solveg made four trips to Alaska to visit their children. He enjoyed fishing in Alaska with Denny and was proud of the 65 pound King Salmon he caught on the Kenai River in 1979. He was also glad to have been able to visit Prudhoe Bay and Cook Inlet oilfields in Alaska with Denny.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Solveg; son, Denny (Jan) Beier of Spokane, Wash.; one granddaughter, Brooke Beier of Spokane; two grandsons, Brad Beier of Beaverton, Ore., and Blake (Elisabeth) Beier of Honolulu. He was predeceased by his daughter, Peggy Beier; his parents; and brother, Arthur Beier of Beach.
Cremation has taken place. A private family celebration of his life will be held at a later time.
Ralph K. Beier, much loved husband, father and grandfather, as well as successful businessman, rancher and realtor, passed away Feb. 12, 2008, at his home, due to congestive heart failure, at the age of 91.
He was a quiet, determined, hardworking man of vision and good judgment. One of his friends remarked about him "When Ralph says he will do something, you can count on him."
He was born to Abraham John and Cora Katherine (Boyer) Beier on the family farm near Beach, N.D. Even at an early age, he was a hard worker and thrifty. In addition to working on the farm while growing up, he also delivered groceries for Miller's Grocery in Beach, dug coal at a strip mine, and picked and sold seeds from Russian Olive Trees. Ralph saved his earnings and paid his way through Interstate Business College in Fargo, N.D. By taking extra courses and working hard, he graduated from a two-year program in 18 months.
In 1939, after several years of working for the City of Fargo and the Northern Pacific Railroad, Ralph struck out on his own. He opened his first enterprise, Beier's Tire Store in Sidney. A few years later, he started an Oliver Farm Equipment business in Sidney. Ralph also opened and operated a Goodyear Tire Store in Miles City for several years during the mid-1940s. His customers knew Ralph to be dependable when they were in need. During harvest, he often delivered tires to farmers in their fields with flat tires on their harvesting equipment.
Solveg Espeland began to work for Ralph as bookkeeper at the tire store in 1940 and continued as permanent soul mate and partner. They were married in Sidney, Jan. 1, 1941, and shared many joyful adventures. Their two children, Peggy and Denny, were born in Sidney.
Ralph and Solveg sold the tire and implement businesses in 1949 and bought a ranch in Western Montana, on Jack Creek near Ennis. They raised cattle, sheep and crops on the ranch until 1953, when they sold the ranch and moved back to Sidney. Ralph resumed ownership of the tire business and rebuilt the business. A few years later, he once again sold the tire store.
In the following years, Ralph established an active and successful real estate business in Sidney. He also purchased and operated a producing oil well, a trailer court and, with several partners, two farms south of Sidney. Looking forward to retirement and less stress, he sold his businesses and worked for Sunrise Equipment as their accountant during the mid-1970s.
Ralph and Solveg retired and moved to Billings in 1979, where he remained active, swimming laps each afternoon and visiting with friends until a few years ago, when he quit driving.
Ralph was a Charter and Life Member of both the Elks and Moose Clubs in Sidney and an Associate Member of the Elks in Billings. He was the last surviving Charter Member of the Sidney Moose Lodge. His recreational interests included traveling, flying, hunting and fishing. Ralph got his private pilot's license in the mid-1940s and owned several airplanes, including a Globe-Swift and a Balanca. Ralph and Solveg made four trips to Alaska to visit their children. He enjoyed fishing in Alaska with Denny and was proud of the 65 pound King Salmon he caught on the Kenai River in 1979. He was also glad to have been able to visit Prudhoe Bay and Cook Inlet oilfields in Alaska with Denny.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Solveg; son, Denny (Jan) Beier of Spokane, Wash.; one granddaughter, Brooke Beier of Spokane; two grandsons, Brad Beier of Beaverton, Ore., and Blake (Elisabeth) Beier of Honolulu. He was predeceased by his daughter, Peggy Beier; his parents; and brother, Arthur Beier of Beach.
Cremation has taken place. A private family celebration of his life will be held at a later time.
He was a quiet, determined, hardworking man of vision and good judgment. One of his friends remarked about him "When Ralph says he will do something, you can count on him."
He was born to Abraham John and Cora Katherine (Boyer) Beier on the family farm near Beach, N.D. Even at an early age, he was a hard worker and thrifty. In addition to working on the farm while growing up, he also delivered groceries for Miller's Grocery in Beach, dug coal at a strip mine, and picked and sold seeds from Russian Olive Trees. Ralph saved his earnings and paid his way through Interstate Business College in Fargo, N.D. By taking extra courses and working hard, he graduated from a two-year program in 18 months.
In 1939, after several years of working for the City of Fargo and the Northern Pacific Railroad, Ralph struck out on his own. He opened his first enterprise, Beier's Tire Store in Sidney. A few years later, he started an Oliver Farm Equipment business in Sidney. Ralph also opened and operated a Goodyear Tire Store in Miles City for several years during the mid-1940s. His customers knew Ralph to be dependable when they were in need. During harvest, he often delivered tires to farmers in their fields with flat tires on their harvesting equipment.
Solveg Espeland began to work for Ralph as bookkeeper at the tire store in 1940 and continued as permanent soul mate and partner. They were married in Sidney, Jan. 1, 1941, and shared many joyful adventures. Their two children, Peggy and Denny, were born in Sidney.
Ralph and Solveg sold the tire and implement businesses in 1949 and bought a ranch in Western Montana, on Jack Creek near Ennis. They raised cattle, sheep and crops on the ranch until 1953, when they sold the ranch and moved back to Sidney. Ralph resumed ownership of the tire business and rebuilt the business. A few years later, he once again sold the tire store.
In the following years, Ralph established an active and successful real estate business in Sidney. He also purchased and operated a producing oil well, a trailer court and, with several partners, two farms south of Sidney. Looking forward to retirement and less stress, he sold his businesses and worked for Sunrise Equipment as their accountant during the mid-1970s.
Ralph and Solveg retired and moved to Billings in 1979, where he remained active, swimming laps each afternoon and visiting with friends until a few years ago, when he quit driving.
Ralph was a Charter and Life Member of both the Elks and Moose Clubs in Sidney and an Associate Member of the Elks in Billings. He was the last surviving Charter Member of the Sidney Moose Lodge. His recreational interests included traveling, flying, hunting and fishing. Ralph got his private pilot's license in the mid-1940s and owned several airplanes, including a Globe-Swift and a Balanca. Ralph and Solveg made four trips to Alaska to visit their children. He enjoyed fishing in Alaska with Denny and was proud of the 65 pound King Salmon he caught on the Kenai River in 1979. He was also glad to have been able to visit Prudhoe Bay and Cook Inlet oilfields in Alaska with Denny.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Solveg; son, Denny (Jan) Beier of Spokane, Wash.; one granddaughter, Brooke Beier of Spokane; two grandsons, Brad Beier of Beaverton, Ore., and Blake (Elisabeth) Beier of Honolulu. He was predeceased by his daughter, Peggy Beier; his parents; and brother, Arthur Beier of Beach.
Cremation has taken place. A private family celebration of his life will be held at a later time.
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