Richard "Dick" A. Wismer Jan. 15, 1910 - April 5, 2012 Richard A. "Dick" Wismer, patriarch of the Swiss Bethany farming community, passed away April 5, 2012, at age 102. He was born on Jan. 15, 1910, to Carl and Tilly Wismer at their dairy farm in Bethany. He was the oldest of five siblings. Except for the last six years of his life, Dick lived and worked on the land grant property that was purchased by his grandfather, Jacob Wismer, in 1873. He attended Union Grade School. After graduation, he moved to Portland and lived there until there was no transportation to attend high school in Beaverton. The following year he moved back to the farm and did not attend high school until a year later. By then Beaverton High School had obtained a bus and he was able to attend. He told stories of riding on the bus fender to school when the seats were all full. One day the football coach asked him to play for the team. He tried out for the next week and the team played a game after that. Sometimes the games interfered with milking time at the family dairy. When this happened the players and coaches would get together and help with the evening chores so they could get to the game. Dick graduated from Beaverton High School in 1928. Dick married Bernice Trachsel, a marriage that lasted until Bernice passed away in October 2011, a few months short of 75 years. After their marriage Dick increased the size of the dairy herd. He was in partnership with his father, Wismer brothers, and they shipped milk to Darigold in Portland. In 1950 the family stopped farm operations. Dick and took his wife over the other farm operations. They worked this farm until about 1975, raising a variety of farm goods which included grain, hay, poultry, strawberries and beef cattle. During his years of farming he often was inspired by his grandfather's success as a pioneer Wismer who started with so little and became so successful on this same property. In the 1940s, Dick and several pioneer friends, including George Fiddle, realized that the old pioneer independent school districts, Bethany Grade School and Union Grade School were outdated and did not have the facilities to provide adequate education for their students. Through their efforts two school districts were consolidated and formed the new Sunset Valley School District. Several years later Sunset Valley School District was incorporated into the Beaverton School District. Dick was very grateful when they named one of their recent new schools Jacob Wismer Elementary School after his grandfather's strong support of public school in the early years. After retirement Dick traveled with his wife to many countries and took up the game of golf. He was active in the Bethany Presbyterian Church and served on many committees and also as Elder on the church session. He was known for his hospitality and friendliness to all who came to know him. Even Dick enjoyed attending out his grandchildren's school events and did so when he was age 90. He was an avid follower of Oregon State University athletics. Dick was also preceded in death by his sisters, Ruth Hastings, Alfred and Edna Owens; children, Joan Vance (Gary), Dr. Ronald Wismer (Jan); grandchildren, David Vance (Lauren), Brian Vance (Lydia), Tyson Wismer (Janelle), Brent Wismer (Arneen), Lindsey Wismer; great-grandchildren. Memorial service will be April 20, 2012 at 2 p.m. at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 15505 NW Springville Rd. Portland. The Wismer family would like to thank all the staff at The Springs for the wonderful care they gave to Dick and his wife in their last year of their lives. Arrangements by Pegg, Paxon & Springer Chapel. Special Instructions: The Wismer family would like to thank all the staff at The Springs for the wonderful care they gave to Dick and his wife in their last year of their lives.