Dr. Rufus Alvin Regier, age 92, formerly of Dallas, Oregon, died in Helena, Montana, on August 13, 2011. Born July 30, 1919, in Midway Township (near Mountain Lake) Minnesota, he was the oldest of eight children of David A. Regier and Barbara E. Epp Regier.
R.A. was born into a Mennonite community and was raised in Mountain Lake, MN. He graduated from Mountain Lake High School in 1938 and during WWII he stayed on the farm to support the war effort by growing food. Later, he attended college at Grace Bible Institute (Grace University) in Omaha, NE from 1945-1948; Creighton University in Omaha, NE, from 1946-1948; Taylor University in Upland, IN, from 1948-1950; and graduated from Des Moines Still College of Osteopathy and Surgery in Iowa (Des Moines University) in 1955. He served as an intern at the Des Moines Still College Osteopathic Hospital for a year before opening a practice in Pocahontas, Iowa, in 1956. He married Gertrude Heinrichs in 1947. He remained in Iowa for 8 years before moving to Oregon in 1964. He spent time in Forest Grove and then Dallas where he spent the majority of his career working. Gertrude died in 1979 after a struggle with cancer. He married Orlue Boevers in 1980. He was almost 70 when he retired from his medical practice in 1989. In 2010, R.A. and Orlue moved to St. Therese of New Hope, Minnesota. Orlue died on March 24, 2011, her 91st birthday. R.A. moved to Helena, Montana in April of 2011 to be near his youngest daughter and her family.
One of the strong themes of his life was his desire to help people. This continued outside his work environment. One way he continued helping people was through his service to the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. “Doc”, as his friends liked to call him, joined the Auxiliary in 1974. He logged numerous volunteer hours and received many awards and recognitions of service, one of which was an Award of Operational Merit for saving three triathletes from drowning during consecutive years at Henry Hagg Lake in Oregon.
R.A. was preceded in death by his parents, David and Barbara; his first wife, Gertrude Heinrichs Regier and their infant son, Dannie; his second wife, Orlue Norland Boevers Regier; and his sister, Evelyn Regier Einfeldt. He is survived by the children of his first marriage, Dean Regier (wife Donna Akiyoshi), Winifred Regier, Rosemary Hossenlopp, and Jean Falley (husband Scott Falley); his grandchildren Josh Regier, Eric Falley, Emelyn Falley, Evan Falley, Eston Falley; the step-children of his second marriage, Bruce Boevers (wife Mary Boevers), Joanell Boevers, Brian Boevers (wife Sara Boevers); his step-grandchildren Paul Boevers, Christina Boevers, Janine Gade (husband Matt Gade), Kieran Kohlhase, Lisa Boevers, Charles Boevers, Anna Willhite (husband Brett Willhite); his step-great-grandchildren Malia Gade, Paden Willhite; his siblings Elfrieda Loewen (husband Mel Loewen), Arnold Regier (wife Elaine Regier), Elmer Regier, Milton Regier (wife Lenora Regier), John Regier (wife Edna Regier), and Mary Regier.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 17th at 11:00am in Dallas, Oregon at the Evangelical Bible Church, 1175 SE Howe Street, with a reception to follow at the church. The burial next to his first wife will be held before the service at the Dallas Cemetery, 2065 SW Fairview Avenue. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.aswfuneralhome.com.
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Brenda (Schroeder) Groh says
Dear Jean and family,
I was saddened to hear about your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you. What a full life your father experienced! May your wonderful memories provide you with peace and comfort.
Derrel Hewitt says
Jean,
I was saddened to hear about the passing of your father, and yet happy to know that he lived a very long life, greatly outliving many others of his generation. He touched many,many lives with his medical practice, and will long be remembered.
Derrel Hewitt
Frank Pender says
Dear Jean and family. I am so sorry to have learned of your father,s passing. I had failed to send a note earlier for some reason, long forgottenn, but found this method on facebook a few moments ago. Thank you for Being, Jean.
Gail Turner Williams says
Jean,
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. What a wonderful man you had as a father. A man who did some very wonderful things.
Gene Panter says
My family’s condolenses to you and your family Jean. Your father was a great man and a great doctor and I’m sure he will be missed by many.
Melinda Seibert says
Dr. Regier was a valued member of the Dallas community. I can’t imagine how many lives he touched. He always had a warm smile and hello. He was a very caring man. My sympathies to the family.
Pamela Schiopen says
My prayers to Dr. Regier’s family. He is my earliest memory of what a great family doctor is all about. I love him to this day for all the kind words and actions he gave to our family.
Roger & Gail Norland says
8/30/11 Best Regards and kind thoughts for the loss of a fine man!
Rolf Canton says
I met him but did not really know him but if Orlue felt loved and secure, then he was a fine man. He will rest in peace.
Terri (Johnson) Mansour says
Jean, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My prayers and sympathy are with you and your family.
Terrie Pursel says
Jean, I am so sorry to read about the loss of your father. You will be in our prayers. Take comfort in knowing you will be reunited! Hugs to you, my friend!
Vivianna RN says
Hello,
You do not know me. However, when I saw Dr Regier’s obit in the paper, I had to let you know that I met the good doctor, when I began the first few years of my nursing career in the Dallas Hospital, back in 1980. Dr Regier was very kind and gentle to me, a new nurse then, just as he also treated his many patients. He was a great doctor and a great gentleman. He is remembered with fondness, these many years later. I am so sorry for your loss.