Dale Ruby

Funeral Services for Dale Ruby will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 13, 2015 at Family Life Church, Pastor Marty Crump officiating. Visitation will be held 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 12, 2015 Gillette Memorial Chapel. Jesse Dale Ruby, age 89, passed away on March 9, 2015 at the Pioneer Manor in Gillette, WY of natural causes. Dale was born at home on the ranch near Savageton, WY on June 17, 1925 to Jesse D. and Hazel M. (Groves) Ruby. Dale grew up on the family sheep ranch. He was educated at the 4 Mile school through grade school. He completed his first year of high school through a correspondence course and then moved into Gillette for the rest of his high school years. He graduated from Campbell County High School in 1943. After graduation, he spent the next two years working on the Ruby Ranch and the spring season traveling around the county shearing sheep with a local shearing crew. In April 1945, he was called to serve his country in WW II. He joined the Army and completed his basic training at Ft. Fannan, TX. In October of 1945, he was sent to Japan. He served one year in occupied Japan close to Nagasaki. He was discharged from the Army in December 1946. Once he returned home in the late 40's, he began working on a seismograph rig, working in many different States. This ultimately led him to his life's passion of drilling. Dale and his brother Max, started Ruby Drilling Company in the late 1940's. In 1970, Max sold his share of the company to another driller. In 1972, Dale acquired full ownership of the drilling business. He and Marge, owned and operated the company until 2000 when health reasons forced him into retirement. During his drilling years, he drilled for water, oil, uranium and gas in Wyoming, Nevada and South Dakota. Dale was also involved in other business ventures in Campbell County, including Boot Hill Nightclub, The Sports Bar and JM Land. In 1955, on Valentine's Day, he married Marjorie G. McBeth. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Marge and Dale started their family in 1956 with the birth of their first daughter Connie. Over the next 8 years, Trena, Brenda and Dalene joined the family. In 1964, he moved the family from the ranch into the Gillette area in order to build the drilling business. He always enjoyed the ranching lifestyle but knew he needed to be closer to town. He and his brother, Max continued ownership of the ranch. When his daughters became active in sports, one of his great pleasures was sponsoring their softball teams. He enjoyed traveling around the region with the teams, becoming a sponsor and one of their biggest fans. As his grandchildren and great-grandchildren became a part of his life, he also followed them throughout their many sports and activities. Most recently, this past fall, he would go to Bicentennial Park, sit in the car, and watch the great-grandchildren run around the soccer fields. Dale was an avid rodeo and bull riding fan. He and Marge attended the NFR for many years and eventually the PBR Finals as well. In the later years of their marriage, Dale and Marge did do some traveling, visiting places like Hawaii, Australia and Mexico. After spending some time traveling, they decided to purchase a home in Beaver Dam, AZ. Dale so enjoyed the warmer weather during the winter months so he could be outside working, riding 4-wheelers and helping friends work on their homes. The Beaver Dam family became one of his greatest pleasures over the last 12 years. He looked forward to heading south every fall to spend time in their winter home. Dale was a member of the National Water Well Association and the Wyoming Water Well Association for 40 years. He was also a member of the Wyoming Woolgrowers Association. Dale is survived by his wife, Marjorie (McBeth) Ruby; one sister, Dola Ellis of White Salmon, WA; one brother, Max Ruby, of Cody, WY; four daughters, Connie (Scott) Heimer, Trena (Troy) Bauder, and Dalene (Brett) Ruby of Gillette and Brenda (Curt) James of Saratoga, WY, five grandchildren; Mason (Katy) Heimer (Grace and Gabriella) of Elgin, OK , Heather (Chad) Gill (McKenzie & Gage), Matthew (Sam) Heimer (Eli, Ella & Craig), Mitchell (Kelly) Heimer, and Paden Bauder all from Gillette. He is preceded in death by his parents Jesse D. and Hazel M. (Groves) Ruby; two sisters, Wyoma Brown and Ceola Bell and one granddaughter, Chandler McGovern. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716 or via website: www.gillettememorialchapel.com Funeral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716