Ralph Eugene Lawrence Besler, 87, Whitewood, SD, died Feb. 9, 2022, at home surrounded by family after a three-month battle with mesothelioma. Services will begin with a Viewing at 9 am Friday, Feb. 18 with the funeral at 11 am at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Whitewood, SD. Burial, with military honors, will follow at 2 pm in Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD.

Ralph was born Oct. 20, 1934, in Lemmon, SD, the ninth of thirteen children to Christian and Juliana (Wolfe) Besler of Bison, SD. His early years were spent on the family's homestead, the 7B Ranch near Bison. He joined the U.S. Navy on January 2, 1952, at the age of 17 and was assigned to the USS Prairie AD-15 as a Machinist Mate from April 1952, until October 10, 1955, serving rotations to Japan and Korea. He graduated first in his class at the Machinist Mate Class "A" School at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in 1954. He became the youngest Petty Officer First Class in the Navy.  He received the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Navy Good Conduct Medal.

He joined the US Air Force on October 24, 1955, and was assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC). Upon completion of 18 weeks of Bombing and Navigation (BOMB/NAV) School at Lowry AFB in Denver CO for B-47 Bombers, he was assigned to the 19th Bomb Wing at Pine Castle AFB, FL, which moved to Homestead AFB, FL, one year later. During those years, Ralph served two tours in Morocco, Africa, with the B-47 Bombers.

Ralph met Renae Blewett during his training in Denver and they later married on April 28, 1956, in Glenwood Springs, CO. In Nov of 1958 their daughter, Melani, was born. Ralph transferred to Grand Forks AFB, ND, in 1960 as an advanced team activating the 4133rd Strategic Aerospace Wing for receiving B-52H Bombers from the Boeing Aircraft Co. He flew many missions on B-52H aircraft teaching pilots the proper operation of Advanced Capability Radar and performing in-flight maintenance as required. He headed the maintenance crew to support the Wing's aircraft in the annual SAC Bombing Competition. He received the Air Force Commendation Medal. In Feb of 1964, Ralph and Renae had their son, Derek, after which Ralph attended the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy at Barksdale AFB, LA.  He also began his dream of earning a private pilot license.

In 1966, Ralph transferred to the 93rd Bomb Wing at Castle AFB, CA, where he served as Branch Chief of the BOMB/NAV Branch, 93rd Avionics Squadron. He also earned his private pilot's license. In 1969, Ralph transferred to the 72nd Bomb Wing, Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, where he served as Branch Chief of the BOMB/ NAV Branch, 72°d Avionics Squadron. He was selected as Team Leader of the maintenance crew supporting the Wing's aircraft in the Annual SAC Bombing Competition.  Ralph frequently flew on competition aircraft training crew members.  He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster. Ralph also served as President of the Ramey AFB Aero Club.

Ralph transferred to Ellsworth AFB, SD, in 1971. He served as Maintenance Superintendent of the 281h Avionics Maintenance Squadron. Ralph again headed the maintenance crew in the Annual SAC Bombing Competition.   He received his Commercial Pilots License for Single and Multi-Engine aircraft. He was awarded the 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Force Commendation Medal.   Ralph retired from the U.S. Air Force on October I, 1972 at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant.

In 1975, Ralph moved the family to McAlester, OK, where he worked for Value Systems Engineering Company contracted for Navy Special Weapons-Code 90 in Savannah, OK, as an inspector, tech writer and logistical engineer. In 1990, he and his wife moved to Albuquerque, NM, where he worked at the Naval Weapons Evaluations Facility and Defense Nuclear Agency at Kirtland AFB until fully retiring in 1996.

Ralph and Renae built their dream home in Glenwood Springs, CO, only to lose it in the Coal Seam Wildfire in 2002. The next year they moved to Whitewood, SD, to be near family. He continued to serve his community by being active in the Masons, Shrine Temple, and a lifelong member of the Order of Elks. He also served Veterans as a Life Member of both the Disabled American Veterans and VFW Post 5860. He was also a member of American Legion Post #164.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Christian and Juliana (Wolfe) Besler; grandparents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Reub) Besler and Michael and Sophie (Giese) Wolfe; one sister, Elsie (Besler) Penor, Bison, SD, and six brothers: Leland Besler, Bison, SD; Raymond Besler, Gillette WY; Elmer Besler, Spearfish, SD; Oscar Besler, Blessing, TX; Darrell Besler, Sturgis, SD and Victor Besler, San Jose, CA.

He is survived by his loving wife, Renae; daughter, Melani (Besler) Roewe and husband David, Guthrie, OK; son, Derek Besler, Whitewood, SD; granddaughter Jaciel (Roewe) Berry and husband Randy, Edmond, OK; grandson, Andrew Roewe and wife Kimberly, Quincy, IL; granddaughter, Shelby-Lyn Besler of Boise, ID, and three great-granddaughters: Arya Berry and Penelope and Reagan Roewe; two sisters: Esther (Besler) Haggart and Alma (Besler) O'Rourke, Spearfish, SD; three brothers: Leroy Besler, Madison, WI; Wayne Besler, Bison, SD; Marlin Besler, Phoenix, AZ, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ralph's memory may be sent to the Spearfish VFW, PO Box 135, Spearfish, SD, 57783 or the Gary Sinise Foundation, GarySiniseFoundation.org.

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