Richard L. Ballard
October 2, 1938 – September 14, 2015

Valentine, NE - Richard "Dick" Lee Ballard, 76, passed away on September 14 surrounded by his family at Rapid City Regional Hospital after a courageous battle with heart failure.

Dick was born on October 2, 1938 to Edmund and Pauline (Beel) Ballard in Valentine, Nebraska. During the early years of his life he and his family lived in a sod house on his grandfather Beel's homestead 35 miles south of Valentine in the Simeon Community. The family moved in 1945 to a neighboring ranch off the 16B Spur where brothers Don and Doug were born. Dick was baptized on March 25, 1945 at St John's Church in Valentine, NE.

Dick rode his horse to the District 79, Simeon, one room schoolhouse until 8th grade. During High School Dick lived in town with Grandma Beel during the week and helped at the ranch on the weekends. Dick graduated from Valentine High School in 1957 where he set many track records.

Immediately after graduation Dick attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln for one year then Hastings College where he majored in forestry and participated on the track team. Dick married Geraldine "Jeri" Hammon on August 27, 1960 in Valentine, NE and they lived in Hastings where Dick continued his education and Jeri worked as a registered nurse.

Dick and Jeri then returned to the ranch where he grew up where a daughter, Lisa Rene' was born in July 1961 and a son, Bradley Lee was born in September 1963.

Dick and Jeri operated a successful, progressive cow and calf ranching operation for 48 years receiving many awards. They received the Middle Niobrara Conservation Award (western region) in 1982, the Range Man of the Year Award from the Nebraska Section of the Society of Range Management in 1983, the 2005 Friends of the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge Award, participated in the Centennial International program and sent cattle to Korea in 1983, were honored to participate in the Integrated Range Management Program at the University of Nebraska in from 1979-1985, and held a grazing permit on the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge for 35 years.

Marianne Beel featured Dick and Jeri's ranch operation in her Telegraph "Sand in Your Shoes" articles for many years. Dick was also featured in stories on grouse hunting and native Sandlhills plants in Nebraskaland Magazine.

In addition to ranching Dick and Jeri operated the Alkali Lake Fish Camp for 23 years. They cherished the many lifelong friends they made and looked forward to seeing them each season.

In 2008 Dick and Jeri sold the ranch for health reasons and moved to the Black Hills near Keystone, SD to be close to their kids. For the past 7 years they enjoyed retirement by cheering on their grandkids in sports, and travelling to Hawaii, Alaska, New England, the Caribbean Islands and to see friends and family.

Dick was a member of the Presbyterian Church, Minnekadusa Masonic Lodge 192, Associate Guardian of Jobs Daughters, Minnehaha Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, Society of Range Management, and Nebraska Cattleman's Association.

Dick had an artistic, creative side which was evident when you walked into his shop. He welded western sculptures from scrap iron around the ranch, made baskets from his old ropes, and was always working on a wood project such as vases, crosses, bird feeders and bird houses. Dick was a good carpenter and welder, and remodeled the old ranch house inside and out, built many windmill towers, a steel slide hay stacker, and decks for his house and was always working on the cabins at the Fish Camp. Dick was always willing to help his kids build a deck or remodel a bathroom in their homes.

In addition to woodworking Dick was an avid bird watcher, collected antique fishing rods and gear, tied his own flies and loved to hike in the Black Hills and learn about the forest. He received his private pilot license in 1970.

Dick passed on his love of ranching, nature, hunting and fishing to his children, their spouses and grandchildren. His patient, soft spoken ways were encouraging and a legacy of love to them.

Dick is survived by his wife, Jeri of 55 years; daughter Lisa (Shane) Osburn and their children Trey, Trepper and Trent; son Brad (Amy) Ballard and their children Nicole and Brian,; brother Don (Charlotte) of Grand Island, NE; uncle Gerald Beel of Valentine, NE; sister in law Connie (Sam) Peterson of Lincoln, NE; sister in law Sharon (Bob) Kleunder of Imperial, NE; brother in law Bob (Jan) of Puma Valley, CA; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Dick was preceded in death by his parents Ed and Pauline Ballard and brother Doug Ballard.

Funeral services for Richard "Dick" Ballard will be held on Saturday, September 19 at 2:00 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Valentine, Nebraska with Pastor Karen Woo (friend Bob Smith) officiating the service. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 18 from 1:00-9:00 p.m. at Sandoz Chapel of the Pines. Interment will be immediately following at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine. Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine is in charge of funeral arrangements.