1932 – 2025
Ralph Parsons McBeath, August 10th, 1932, born on the family farm in Turin Alberta to John and Catherine McBeath. He was the 11th born and the youngest. Ralph spent his youth on the farm riding his horse and hunting rabbits for their pelts, doing chores and helping his dad hoe sugar beets by hand then with a tractor. At the age of 7 Ralph contracted polio and had to spend 3 months in isolation in a house in Lethbridge where John and Catherine could only wave to him from the sidewalk.
When he was 16 he and his parents moved to Hanna, where he started work for Alberta Treasury Branch, then in 1951 he was transferred to an ATB bank in Bowden and boarded in Olds at the house which is now the MHR Law offices. Then he met Leola Beuhler who was working at Becker Drugs, they we married August 20th, 1952, they resided in Olds having 5 Children, Maureen, Gail, Gary, Robert and Barry.
While in Olds Ralph worked for the gas company installing gas meters and got his plumbing ticket, then for a short time had a plumbing shop. In January of 1967 they moved to the farm southeast of Olds full filing his dream of being a farmer.
In 1987 Ralph and Leola divorced and Ralph went to work for Alberta Hail and Crop Insurance being an adjuster. In 1993 he met Brenda Colling and moved in with her, then went to work for Olds Fertilizers and helping Dave Morgan with silage and harvest. Ralph and Brenda in 2005 moved to Lethbridge but still came back to Olds Fertilizers driving tender truck every spring until he was 80. Then in spring of 2022 Ralph moved back to Olds where he resided until his passing.
Ralph was an avid curler and a golfer; while in Lethbridge he would golf the Bridge Valley Golf Course a par 3 weekly until he was 90.
Ralph was a volunteer of the Olds Fire Department from 1952 to 1967.
Ralph was predeceased by his parents, John and Catherine McBeath, Brothers; Robert, Jackie, Willy and Ben McBeath, sisters, Ina Ostrip, Mary Waller, Rosie Johnston, Isabelle Orsten, Cathy Lunde, Dorthy Shillito. Grandson; Ryan McBeath, Great grandchildren; Brandon and Brady Draper, Tianna Gatto. Son-in-law Tex Worobtez.
Ralph is survived by his children; Maureen Worobetz, Gail (Bob) Gatto, Gary (Donna) McBeath, Bucket (Ingrid) McBeath, and Barry McBeath (Angie Reid). Grandchildren; Sharon Payne, Alex Worobetz, Raylynn Gatto, Jason Gatto, Nadine Foreman, Woody McBeath, Adele McBeath, Haley Evans, Stefanie McKay, Jason McBeath, Robert McBeath. Great grandchildren; Alyssa, Curtis, Justin, Natalie, Mya, Tareyn, Riley, Khloe, Laney, Emilyn, Levi, Jaxton, Lillian. Great great grandchildren; Ruth, Xavier. Ralphs partner Brenda Colling, her children Ron (Pam) Colling, Grant Colling (Lita). Many nieces and nephews
Ralph will be cremated and no funeral as per his wishes.
