John Ralph

Bob graduated from Westside High School in 1959 and then went to work for Union Pacific Railroad. While Bob grew up in Omaha, he spent many summers with his grandparents, at their cabins in Spirit Lake, Iowa. After a year at U.P., Bob attended the University of Nebraska – Lincoln where he was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in business. He became a salesperson for Getty Oil Company where he traveled the east coast and managed territories in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

In 1973, Bob returned to Omaha with his family, where he owned and managed Bender-Ross Equipment Co., an agricultural manufacturing company, making manlifts for grain elevators. While providing for his family, he enjoyed several activities with friends. His passions were playing bridge, tennis, hunting and fishing. Bob loved Spirit Lake and shared his experiences every summer with his family and friends, bringing them to the same cabins where he spent his youth.

In 1986, a new opportunity arose, so Bob (and family) ventured to New Hampshire, purchasing an oil distributing business. Only a few short years later, another opportunity presented itself and Bob purchased Dependable Manufacturing, a chair manufacturing company, in Bellevue, Nebraska. He continued that business under the name, SDI Manufacturing, until he retired. With Bob’s love of water, he made his home on Hanson Lakes in Bellevue where he lived for twenty years. Bob had many wonderful life experiences with his family and friends.