Richard A. "Dick" Wismer

Wismer, Richard 'Dick' A. 102 Jan. 15, 1910 April 05, 2012 Richard A. "Dick" Wismer, patriarch of the Swiss Bethany Community, passed away on April 5, 2012, at age 102. He was born on Jan. 15, 1910, to Carl and Tilly Wismer at their dairy farm in Bethany. He was the oldest of five siblings. Except for the last six years of his life, Dick lived and worked his entire life on the land grant property that was purchased by his grandfather, Jacob Wismer, in 1873. He attended Union Grade School. After graduation, he moved to Portland and lived with his aunt and uncle to attend Lincoln High School his freshman year. There was no transportation at that time to Beaverton High School. The following year he moved back to the farm and did not attend high school until a year later. By then Beaverton High School had obtained a bus and he was able to ride to school every day. He told stories of riding on the bus fender on the way to school when the seats were all full. One day the football coach asked him to play for the team. He tried out for the team and played the next week and every game after that. Sometimes the games interfered with milking time at the family dairy. When this happened the players and coaches would get together and help with the evening chores so they could get to the game on time with enough players to play the game. Dick graduated from Beaverton High School in 1928. In 1937, he married Bernice Trachsel, a marriage that lasted until Bernice passed away in October 2011, a few months short of 75 years. After their marriage Dick increased the size of the dairy herd, enlarged the milking facilities and named it, Wismer & Sons Dairy. He was in partnership with his father and brother Raymond. They shipped milk to Darigold in Portland. In 1950, the dairy stopped operation. Dick and his wife then built a new home on the farm property and took over the other farm operations. They worked this farm until about 1975, raising a variety of farm goods which included grain, hay, poultry, strawberries and beef cattle. During his years of farming he often mentioned his grandfather, Jacob Wismer. He was inspired by his grandfather's success as a pioneer who started with so little and became so successful on this same property. In the middle 1940s, Dick and several friends, including George Findley, realized that the old pioneer independent school districts of Bethany Grade School and Union Grade School were outdated and did not have the facilities to provide an adequate education for their students. Through their efforts these two districts were consolidated and formed the new Sunset Valley School District. Several years later Sunset Valley School District incorporated into the Beaverton School District. Dick was very grateful and appreciative of the Beaverton School District when they named one of their recent new schools Jacob Wismer Elementary School after his grandfather, a strong supporter of public school in the early pioneer days. After retirement Dick traveled with his wife to many countries and took up the game of golf. He was active in the Bethany Presbyterian Church and served on many committees and also as Elder on the church session. He was always looking for ways to help others and known for his hospitality and friendliness to all who came to know him. Dick enjoyed attending his grandchildren's school events even if it meant sitting out in the inclement weather to watch a game when he was age 90. He was also an avid follower of Oregon State University athletics. Dick was also preceded in death by his brothers, Alfred and Raymond. He is survived by his sisters, Ruth Hastings and Edna Owens; children, JoAnn Vance (Gary), Dr. Ronald Wismer (Jan); grandchildren, David Vance (Laureen), Brian Vance (Lyda), Tyson Wismer (Janell), Brent Wismer and Lindsey Wismer; great-grandchildren, Corinne and Aaron Vance. Memorial service will be April 20, 2012 at 2 p.m. at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 15505 NW Springville Rd., Portland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Betha ny Presbyterian Church or Beaverton Education Foundation/Jacob Wismer Elementary School. The Wismer family would like to thank all the staff at The Springs at Tanasbourne for the wonderful care they gave to Dick and his wife in their last year of their lives. Arrangements by Pegg, Paxson, & Springer Chapel.