W. Tom Beebe, of Custer, SD, passed away in his sleep on Thursday July 9, 2015, at Fall River Health Hospital in Hot Springs.

Tom was born in the old hospital in Edgemont, South Dakota on May 29, 1924, to A. T. (Bumble) Beebe and Ruth Robison Beebe. He was raised on his parent's ranch on the Cheyenne River in Niobrara County, Wyoming. His constant companions were his cousins, Jim Robison and Peggy Robison Whitman. He was educated at the Cheyenne River Country School for the first ten grades and graduated from Edgemont High School in 1942. He married Patricia Woytassek on February 1, 1946, in the Catholic priest's rectory in Edgemont. They had 69 years of marriage. Pretty amazing Tom would say, considering the honeymoon got derailed by a blizzard, but they made the most of it in Hot Springs.

Tom joined his parents and his Uncle Frank Robison in their ranch operation raising sheep and cattle. He took over the ranch following the death of his father in 1957. He was progressive in operating his ranch and obtained his pilot's license after only a few lessons, and used his planes in running his ranch and helping his neighbors. He was recognized for his outstanding conservation practices by the Fall River County Soil Conservation Service in 1970, and received a Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Cooperative Effort with the Nebraska National Forest in Developing and Implementing The Cottonwood Land Exchange in 1989.

Following his retirement from the ranch on the Wyoming/South Dakota state line west of Edgemont, he relocated to a small ranch on Carroll Creek Road in Custer County. He kept active in improving that ranch, planting evergreen trees and helping Gale and Mike in their horse operation. In later years, he made lariat rope baskets and enjoyed selling and giving them away, mainly because they provided him with the opportunity to meet people.

The family is grateful to those who made it possible for Tom to live in his own home, and in particular his daughter Gale and Mike Slater for their assistance in these last years.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia; daughters, Kathleen M. Beebe; Gale A. Beebe (Mike Slater); grandsons, Stephen Schultz and Christopher Schultz.

He was preceded in death by his infant son, Thomas Lee Beebe and his parents Bumble and Ruth Beebe.

A memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 17, 2015, at the St. James Parrish Hall in Edgemont, SD, with Rev. Dr. J. Edwin Coats officiating to celebrate Tom's life and to share stories that Tom enjoyed.