Dr. Ralph Eugene Bellar Sr was born on June 19, 1930 on the family farm near O'Neill, Nebraska, the youngest and eleventh child of John K. and Jennie (Schweitzer) Bellar.  When he was 8, the family moved to Leadville, Colorado where he lived until he was 14.  After his dad passed away, the family moved to Broken Bow, Nebraska, where he graduated high school with the class of 1948.

Ralph spent the next few years at a variety of jobs, ranging from fry cook to selling magazines, until he was drafted into the United States Army.  Serving during the Korean War, he was a non-combatant medic in the psychiatric ward.  Upon his honorable discharge, Ralph took advantage of the GI Bill and enrolled in college.  While in college, he worked various jobs to help fund his education, including working a full-time job with Braniff Airlines in Omaha for two years.  While in med school, Ralph formed a house painting business.  He graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Medicine in 1960 with a total debt of $300.  From there, Dr. Bellar took a year internship at Bernalillo County Indian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  It was here he met his future wife, Gail Patton Arnold, and the couple were married on April 29, 1961 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

After a brief stint of practicing medicine in Lovington, New Mexico, Doc and Gail moved to Harper, Kansas in March of 1962, where he and a med-school friend bought the medical practice of long-time Harper physician, L.C. Joslin.  Later that year, their son, Ralph Jr was born, followed by Chris in 1967, and daughter, Regina in 1969.

Dr. Bellar operated the Harper Medical Clinic for the next 45 years, retiring at the age of 80 in January 2011, having served the Harper community for nearly 50 years.  Many of these years were the days when a small-town doctor did it all: from making house calls, delivering babies, doing minor surgery, giving anesthesia, and taking call seven days a week.  Doc thoroughly enjoyed his career as a physician and enjoyed the interaction with his patients and fellow co-workers, both at his clinic and at the Harper Hospital.  Anyone who ever worked at the Harper Hospital will remember Dr. Bellar for the trail of coffee he left wherever he went.  He considered his clinic staff as valued and esteemed friends rather than just employees.  Doc valued the service, support, and camaraderie of long-time PAs, Dick Aldis and Stan Wedman.

Among his many interests were spending time on the golf course (walking of course…no riding allowed), gardening, reading, and researching the next stock to buy.  Dr. Bellar earned his pilot's license and for a time he owned a plane with Paul Shue and Spike Hostetler.  He enjoyed being the coach of his children's baseball and softball teams throughout the years.  Doc was an avid, lifelong fan of Nebraska Cornhusker football.  He also enjoyed traveling with Gail, visiting friends around the globe and most of all the time at the family cabin in Colorado.

As an active member of Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church for 60 years, Dr. Bellar was a man of unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and reading his bible was a part of his daily routine.  He treasured the relationships and close friendships formed at church and the many good times shared with them.

Doc dearly loved his family and extended family and was equally loved by them.  He leaves a multitude of memories and stories to forever be treasured.  Although dementia robbed him of short-term memory the last few years of his life, Doc remained his gentle, easy-going self with a ready, sometimes unexpected wit to the end.  The last 8 months of his life were spent as a resident of Spring View Manor in Conway Springs, Kansas, just down the street from his son, Chris's family.  Doc was gently and kindly cared for by the staff until his passing on December 31, 2023 at the age of 93.

Preceding Doc in death were his parents, John and Jennie Bellar and all his siblings: Clayton Bellar, Evelyn Wagenfuhr, Floyd Bellar, Ruth Sullivan, Doris Geist, Mary Geist, John Bellar, Jim Bellar, Francis Bellar, and Millie Stutzman.  He is survived by his wife of almost 63 years, Gail of the home; children: Ralph Bellar Jr (Rachel) of Fairway, Kansas, Chris Bellar (Amy) Conway Springs, and Regina Dean (Kirby) of Keezletown, Virginia; daughter-in-law, Jeanette Bellar of Overland Park, Kansas; grandchildren: Jory Garrett (Jennifer), Ashley Garrett, Joshua Bellar (Theresa), Jenna Bellar, Noah Bellar, Grant Bellar, Sabrina Bellar, Luke Bellar, and Maycee Dean; great-grandchildren: AJ Garrett and Jory Michael Garrett; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.

Friends may view and register from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday with family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to greet friends at the funeral home.

Private family interment will take place Saturday morning and Memorial Service is 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 6, 2024 at Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church with Pastor Kenzie Intemann officiating.  Reception with family and friends will follow.  Memorial Service will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/prairierosefuneralhomes and will also be uploaded after the service to this page of our website.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church or Harper County Health Foundation Dialysis Campaign and can be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 613 W 14th St ~ Harper, Kansas 67058