Ralph W Beyer

Ralph Wolfgang Beyer, 91, passed away on January 18, 2016 in St. George, Utah, from complications due to congenital heart failure. Ralph was born in Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany on September 5, 1924, to Fritz Guido and Johanna Frohm Beyer. He was brought to the United States from Germany at age 3 where his family settled in Salt Lake City. His father died when he was 8 and his mother worked all her life to support her little family that also included Ralphs brother Harro and sister Sonja. He has always loved music and even from an early High School age, started his own dance bands. He served in the US army during WWII in the Pacific as an aircraft gunner. He was transferred to Hawaii where he joined the military band. During that time his band played in Hawaii, Iwo Jima and Okinawa for Bing Crosby, Eddie Bracken, Bob Hope and Doris Day. He served an honorable LDS mission in Switzerland. After returning to the states, he formed a dance band that performed in various locations. He attended the University of Utah and studied music and engineering. At this time, he met his eternal sweetheart, Theda Lou Christensen. They became engaged on Christmas day, 1952, and were married February 6, 1953, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Ralph started his own music store, “Ye Music Box” on State Street in SLC and has owned music stores in both California and Southern Utah. He has served faithfully in many church callings throughout his life and has remained a strong and devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has always been a hard working individual, encouraging his children in their pursuit of music. He has loved his family and given them a good example of industry, faith and devotion to family. He is survived by: his wife, Theda Lou Beyer; children, Kelley Ivey, Gregory R. Beyer, Heather Karstens, Lori Arnold, Denise Baumert, Kristine Leach and Val J. Beyer; 23 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Even though his family is saddened at his passing, they celebrate the wonderful life of their father and husband. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, January 23, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. at the Santa Clara Valley LDS Chapel, 3040 Santa Clara Dr., Santa Clara, UT. Viewings will be held on Friday, evening January 22, 2016, from 6:30-8:00p.m., and again on Saturday from 11:30 to 12:30, both at the chapel. Interment with Military Honors will follow the service at the Santa Clara City Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to share condolences online at www.SerenityStG.com. Arrangements and memorial tree planting are under the direction of Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah, 435-986-9100.

Ralph W Beyer

September 5, 1924 - January 18, 2016