Ray Alan Gard, age 94, of Beaver Crossing, died March 23, 2026.
He was born in York, on Oct. 29, 1931, to Alvin J. and Ruth (Pratt) Gard. He graduated from Beaver Crossing High School in 1949. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1953 with a B.S. Degree in General Agriculture. Ray served in the U.S. Army from November 1953 to November 1955, which included a tour of duty in Germany. Ray taught a veteran’s agriculture class in Friend for 20 months, starting in June 1956. He started farming his dad’s home farm in 1957, and then the farm where his mother was raised in 1968. He retired from farming after the 1994 season, but continued to feed cattle for several years.
Ray married Wilma Beckmann on Sept. 25, 1965, in Garland, and they were blessed with three children: Aaron, Jennie and Alan, and later with three grandchildren, Gabrael, Alijah, and Dalaney.
Ray served as an officer of several county agricultural related organizations. He was a member of the Beaver Crossing American Legion Post #178 and was commander for four years. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cordova, where he served joyfully as treasurer for many years. He was also active in the Lutheran Laymen’s League.
Ray enjoyed sports, especially playing baseball, bowling and golf. He enjoyed playing ball with his growing children on their front lawn. He also liked to play cards, especially pitch and three-handed pinochle.
Survivors include his wife, Wilma Gard of Beaver Crossing; sons, Aaron and wife, Anita of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Alan and wife, Beth and their children, Gabrael, Alijah and Dalaney of Pine Township, Pennsylvania; and daughter, Jennie and husband, Rick Haws of Owasso, Oklahoma; brother, Don and wife, Beverly of Greenfield, Indiana; sister-in-law, Kathleen Beckmann, brother-in-law, Dennis Beckmann and wife, Priscilla; and nieces and nephews.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Ruth Gard; brothers, John and Gene and their wives; and brothers-in-law, Loren, Douglas and Donald Beckmann.
A gathering of family and friends will be Monday, March 30, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at Volzke Funeral Home. The funeral service will be Tuesday, March 31, at St. John's Lutheran Church at Cordova, with committal at the Beaver Crossing Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Arrangements by Volzke Funeral Home.
