Mostly Cloudy, 70° F
(Nov. 17, 2005)
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church for long-time Powell farmer Joseph Edward Ries, 92, who died Saturday, Nov. 12 at Powell Valley Care Center.
Pastor Brett Balfour will officiate at services and burial in Crown Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be at Thompson Funeral Home from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday prior to services. A small lunch will be served at Immanuel Lutheran following interment.
Joe was born Feb. 4, 1913 in Oak Park/Berwyn, Ill., to John Peter and Mary (Petr) Ries. When he was a year and a half old, he moved with his parents to a homestead near Powell in September of 1915.
He attended Riverside, Garland and Powell schools, graduating from high school in 1932. After high school, he started farming on the family homestead four and a half miles southeast of Powell. He married Amelia June Lehman of Bridger, Mont., on May 2, 1942, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bridger. They continued farming for 50 years, before retiring and moving into Powell.
Joe truly enjoyed 60 years of raising crops and livestock as part of the irrigated agriculture of the Shoshone Irrigation Project and served three terms on the Shoshone Irrigation District board. His hobbies, when not farming, included woodworking, welding, stationary engine repair and rebuilding, collecting antiques and gardening.
He was baptized March 11, 1913, in St. Mary of Celle Church, Berwyn, Ill. He was confirmed March 29, 1942, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, Powell. He continued his life-long membership at Immanuel Lutheran and served on several committees and in several offices in the congregation.
Survivors include his son, Ronald Ries and wife Ann of Cody; a daughter, Betty Beaver and husband Michael of Laramie; one granddaughter, Lori Beaver of Graham, Wash.; three grandsons, David Beaver and wife Colleen of Newark, Del., Ryan Ries and wife Leanne of Wadena, Minn., and Rod Ries of Morrison, Colo.; three great-grandchildren, Isaac and Emma Ries and Zachary Beaver; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Amelia; his parents; sisters Gertrued, Helen and Marie; and brothers George, Frank and Jerry.
For those who wish, the family requests memorials to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 223 E. Fifth Street, Powell, WY 82435, or Powell Senior Center, 248 N. Gilbert, Powell, WY 82435.
