Ralph Russell Beal, a longtime resident of Roseburg, Oregon, died on Aug. 6, 2023, at the age of 84.
Ralph is survived by his wife Mary Ellen, his sons Doug and Todd and his grandson Joshua. He is
predeceased by his parents Cecil and Alice; his first wife Beverly; his brothers Alva, Robert and Thomas;
and his sisters Gertrude and Berniece.
Ralph was born in Bremerton, Washington, on March 13, 1939, to Cecil and Alice Beal. The family
relocated to Elkton, Oregon, in 1947. He was on Elkton High School's first championship-winning
basketball team in 1957, securing the Oregon State Class 4B title after going undefeated with 25 wins
that season. He graduated from Elkton High School in 1958.
On Aug. 22, 1959, he married his high school sweetheart, Beverly. Together they welcomed two sons
over the next three years. Ralph was a loving, devoted father and husband and a successful
businessman.
He worked in construction, driving dump trucks and operating heavy equipment, before purchasing the
Winston Dairy Queen in 1975. Success in Winston led to the purchase of the Roseburg DQ in 1979. He
continued as a DQ franchise owner until 1991, when he happily retired at the age of 52. This early
retirement allowed Ralph and Beverly to travel, visiting Alaska and spending many winters in Mesa,
Arizona, where he played softball and managed the team.
Ralph loved the outdoors and was a lifelong hunter, successful with elk, deer and antelope. He also
enjoyed fishing on Cascade Mountain lakes and duck hunting in Southern Oregon. He was an avid
motorcycle rider and camper. He exemplified Do-It-Yourself, often tackling difficult household and
vehicle projects.
Ralph was previously an active member of the BPOE, RMEF, OHA and Good Sam RV Club. As a Green
Thumb gardener, he grew the largest tomatoes in the neighborhood, of which he would have shared
more, but he really enjoyed his BLT sandwiches.
Ralph considered himself the luckiest man when he met and fell in love with Mary Ellen, the second
love of his life. They married on Dec. 7, 2019, this time with children and grandchildren in attendance.
In his life, he was called Ralph, Dad, Mr. Beal and PopPop, and he will be deeply missed by his family,
friends and all who knew him.
A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Aug. 26, 2023, at Taylor's Family Mortuary in Winston.
Pastor Mike Kildal will officiate. Condolences may be offered at www.taylorsfamilychapel.com. In lieu of
flowers, please consider donating to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research at
www.stopsarcoidosis.org.