Son of Henry Fred Beard and Ora Mae (Cheesman) Beard. He was raised in Milk River, moved to Newberg, Ore c.1918, graduated from High School in Newberg, Ore, USA as an honor student. He later took several short courses in various fields. He returned to Milk River and worked for several different farmers in order to accumulate enough machinery to farm on his own. He took over management of the Beard Homestead (farm) in 1940 plus adding several parcels of land to the "farm". Ralph was very civic minded and served as Mayor of Milk River for two terms and was the Secretary for the Milk River Volunteer Fire Dept. He was Exalted Ruler of the Milk River Elks Lodge. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Eastern Star. He was the mentor of most of the young men in the Beard/Austin/Thompson families. Ralph had most of these young men work for him on the farm. All the young men looked back on these summers with fond memories. Ralph and his wife Mary (Red) Beard were very partial to German Shepherds and owned several throughout their lives. Jiggs, Rolfe and several others. He was honest and hard working and taught good values to all the young men who worked for him. He died in 1997 and is at rest in the Milk River Cemetery next to his mother and father. Ralph married Mary Red in 1948 and they had one daughter in 1958. Ralph is survived by both his wife and his daughter.
Son of Henry Fred Beard and Ora Mae (Cheesman) Beard. He was raised in Milk River, moved to Newberg, Ore c.1918, graduated from High School in Newberg, Ore, USA as an honor student. He later took several short courses in various fields. He returned to Milk River and worked for several different farmers in order to accumulate enough machinery to farm on his own. He took over management of the Beard Homestead (farm) in 1940 plus adding several parcels of land to the "farm". Ralph was very civic minded and served as Mayor of Milk River for two terms and was the Secretary for the Milk River Volunteer Fire Dept. He was Exalted Ruler of the Milk River Elks Lodge. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Eastern Star. He was the mentor of most of the young men in the Beard/Austin/Thompson families. Ralph had most of these young men work for him on the farm. All the young men looked back on these summers with fond memories. Ralph and his wife Mary (Red) Beard were very partial to German Shepherds and owned several throughout their lives. Jiggs, Rolfe and several others. He was honest and hard working and taught good values to all the young men who worked for him. He died in 1997 and is at rest in the Milk River Cemetery next to his mother and father. Ralph married Mary Red in 1948 and they had one daughter in 1958. Ralph is survived by both his wife and his daughter.
Inscription
The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.
