Wallce Ray "John" Beeler, 75, Sidney, MT

Memorial service for John Beeler, 75, of Sidney, MT was held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 2 at Ebenezer Congregational Church with Pastor David Meehan officiating. Remembrances, pictures, and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.fulkersons.com.

On April 18, 2018, after a hard fought battle with cancer, another cowboy rode away to live on the big ranch in the sky. Wallace Ray "John" Beeler was born March 28, 1943 on the family farm north of Wibaux, MT to George and Helen (Accart) Beeler. He was the youngest of thirteen children. John was baptized at St. Peters Catholic Church in Wibaux. Early on John attended a country school near Wibaux. He was only able to attend formal school through the fourth-grade, as he was needed to help tend to the family farm. In John's early teens he would travel with his sister Louise to pick fruit in Washington to help support the family. At sixteen John began a 39-year career working in the oil field. In June of 1962 John married Erma Wassmann and made his home in Glendive, MT. That union brought five children, Lora, Linda, Lisa, Johnny Ray and Cliff. Years later John had relocated to Dickinson, ND for oil field work and met the love of his life, Patricia "Patty" Goetz. John and Patty were married on March 28, 1984, which happened to also be John and Patty's birthdays. John and Patty later moved to Sidney, MT where John worked for Welltec Oilfield Services until its closure. John then went to work for Holly Sugar for five campaigns. In 2002 John had to have open-heart surgery that forced him to retire. He spent his retirement years working on the ranch located along the old lost highway.

John had a tremendous love for raising and breaking horses. He was a registered quarter horse breeder and a member of the AQHA for over 15 years. He had no problem spending countless hours talking about horses with anyone that wanted to listen. Besides horses John had many other passions in his life. John enjoyed hunting, fishing, dancing, old western movies, playing cards, restoring old furniture and raising his peacocks. John had a very creative mind and came up with countless unique inventions. He would create anything from a fishing lure to a tool used in the oil field. John had an amazing sense of humor and very rarely would you see him without a smile on his face. He was considered by many as a teller of stories and a fixer of stuff. He always had a story or joke to tell and could find a solution to fix anything that was broken whether it worked or not.

John was one of the hardest working men around and he played hard too. John lived his life to the fullest and would never back down from a fight and he fought till his last breath. John was rough around edges at times and may have not always shown it, but he loved everyone in his family with all his heart. John kept a special place in his heart for his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by his parents, George and Helen Beeler, Siblings, Louise (John) Smith, Jeanne (Charles) Fulton, Roy Beeler, Rod Beeler, Pete (Arla) Beeler, Lloyd (Florence) Beeler, Daughter in law, Beth Beeler, Father in law, Joseph Goetz, Grandsons, Michael Glass and Keden Sportsman, Brother in law Harry Wandler and lifelong friend Johnny Lingle.

John was survived by his wife Patricia "Patty" Beeler, children Lora (Mike) Smith , Linda (Kent) Hensman, Lisa (Steve) Engebretson, Johnny Ray Beeler, Cliff (Melonie) Beeler, sister in law, Jeanette Wandler, special friend, Jim Paben, 10 grandchildren, 15 great grand children and numerous nieces and nephews.