Robert 'Ty' Ballinger
Ty Ballinger served his community for many years both as a biologist and sales rep, but more importantly he loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them and watching them grow.
Robert “Ty” Ballinger was born in Ransom County, N.D., on Oct. 24, 1932. Ty passed from this world July 21, 2024, at the age of 91 in Moses Lake, Wash., where he had lived for 62 years.
Ty was raised on a farm in Eastern North Dakota and graduated from Lisbon High School. During high school, he participated in football, basketball and track and was a member of the state championship basketball team.
Ty then moved on to Concordia University in Moorhead, Minn., where he was a four-year varsity athlete on the football team and graduated with a B.S. degree in science. Ty returned to his alma mater and taught and coached at Lisbon High School until he moved his family to Missoula, Mont., to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Montana. Ty received his master’s degree in physical education and moved to Moses Lake, Wash., as a charter member of the faculty at the newly established Big Bend Community College in 1962. Ty served as a professor and administrator at Big Bend Community College until 1977. He left Big Bend to join Schaeffer Manufacturing Company as a regional sales representative. Ty stayed in this position for 46 years, retiring at 89 years old in 2023. While at Schaeffer he received many awards including National Sales Rep of the Year, the Diamond Circle Club, The Marty J Schwab Award and induction into the Schaeffer Hall of Fame.
Ty married Artis Ann Herk in 1954 and is survived by her and their three children: Jeri Ann Laam of Orofino, Idaho; Jay Ballinger of Moses Lake, Wash.; and Kami Thompson of Portland, Ore.
In addition, Ty is survived by his two sons-in-law, Rick Laam and John Thompson, and his daughter-in-law, Renee Tanael-Ballinger. Ty is also survived by eight grandchildren: Lisa (Ed Sawyer) Laam Sawyer, Leslie (Justin Walden) Laam, Laura (Tim Bartholomew) Laam Bartholomew, Bradley (Rungnapa) Ballinger, Alexis (Caitlin Eliason) Ballinger, Nathan (Christina Tran) Thompson, Kendall Thompson and Rachel Thompson. Ty also had four great-grandchildren: Alec Sawyer, Fox Bartholomew, Sylvia Bartholomew and Saheed Thompson.
Funeral services for Ty will be held at Moses Lake Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. A reception will be held the same day beginning at 4 p.m. at the Moses Lake Golf and Country Club.
Please express your thoughts and memories for the family at https://bit.ly/3yH5MRF. Arrangements are under the care of Kayser's Chapel of Memories.