Ralph Schmierer

Ralph B. Schmierer 90, Fargo, died Tuesday, November 30, 2010, at Essentia Health in Fargo. Ralph B. Schmierer was born July 16, 1920, to Jacob and Erna (Beling) Schmierer in Fargo, North Dakota. He attended Clara Barton, Agassiz and graduated from Fargo Central High in 1938. Ralph attended North Dakota State University in 1942, with a degree in Business and Accounting. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1942-1946 in the Pacific Theatre and was discharged from the service as a Lieutenant Commander. On October 30, 1942, he married Mary Jane Langlie at the First Methodist Church in Yuma, Arizona. They were married for 67 years. They moved to Minneapolis in 1946, where he worked for Cargill and Butler Brothers until 1948, when he became an Internal Revenue Agent. He went to Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, for six months studying tax law. After three years in Minneapolis, he was transferred to Fargo. On June 15, 1951, he joined Dakota Clinic as the clinic administrator, which was located in downtown Fargo at 700 1st Avenue South. His first major accomplishment was to buy the land and get a new clinic built south of Fargo at 1702 South University Drive. The next major accomplishment was to develop the Dakota Medical Foundation in 1960. The Foundation owned and operated the Dakota Hospital that opened its doors in 1964. He served as secretary-treasurer from 1960 to 1988. Ralph also organized Medical Properties, Inc. which owned all the clinic’s buildings and equipment and served as its secretary-treasurer for 26 years. His knowledge of taxes and experience as an IRS agent were used throughout his career in the field of health care. Ralph was a member of the North Dakota Medical Group Management Association and a Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives and was president of the North Dakota Association. He was a member of the First Congregational Church, where he sang in the choir for many years; Rotary Club; Chamber of Commerce; United Fund; and the American Legion. Those who knew him will remember his competitive spirit and his great love of golf and his friends at the Fargo Country club. He was a member of Fargo Country Club for 58 years, a board member for six years and club president in 1980. He was president of the ND Golf Association in 1980 and a board member for six years. He loved spending winters in Maui, Hawaii. He and Mary Jane wintered there for 24 years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jane, who passed away October 6, 2010; sisters, Betty Lou Ellis and Ruth Anderson. He is survived by his daughter, Kathy, Fargo, ND; son Bradley (Sissy) Schmierer, Hastings, MN; grandsons, Baxter (Trisha) Pearson; and Tyler Pearson, both of Fargo. “Life has been great to me, probably better than any man has the right to expect. At home I’ve been blessed with a wonderful wife, Mary Jane, a daughter, Kathy, and a son, Brad, a golf pro. At work, my business life has been spent with an incredible group of physicians, associates and community leaders. Creating and developing the Dakota Medical Foundation was my greatest accomplishment.” Memorials may be sent to Dakota Medical Foundation, Hospice of the Red River Valley or the First Congregational Church. Funeral Service: Friday, December 3, 2010, at 3:00 PM, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Fargo. Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the church. Entombment: Riverside Mausoleum, Fargo.