Member News In Memory

Byron W. Mabee 1929-2023

Byron W. Mabee, loving husband and father, passed away at home Jan. 9, 2023, surrounded by family.

Byron (Bill) was born on May 25, 1929, in Riverside, California, to the late Byron Mabee and Nyla (Long) Mabee of Sweet Home. He married Doris Garrison on April 19, 1951, in Albany.

He is survived by his loving wife of 72 years; four children, Debra, Pamela, Teresa and Cheri. He leaves behind his loving sister-in-law, Marni and her daughter, Lisa. Byron has eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Byron and his parents moved to Sweet Home when he was 15 years old. He graduated from Sweet Home High School, where he met and married his beautiful wife, Doris.

Byron entered the U.S. Navy in 1947 and served seven years, stationed in San Francisco, California; Kodiak, Alaska; Guam and Long Beach, California. His ship assignments took him around the world, and he often talked about his adventures and great love of the sea.

After his service, he joined the U.S. Navy Department, Aeronautics Admin- istration and studied electronics and radar engineering, ultimately joining the Federal Aviation Administration where he served more than 35 years. His work took him to Vietnam, Iran and throughout the U.S. At the end of his career, he was the sector chief at the Oakland, California, FAA Air Traffic Control Center.

Retiring to a ranch in Sweet Home, Byron started living his dream by starting Mabee’s Red Angus in 1984. He became a prominent and well-respected leader in the Red Angus Association of America.

He won the prestigious Midland Bull Test many years and consistently earned championships at the Oregon

State Fair. Byron was proud to be a founder of the Western States Red Angus Association and the widely recognized and popular Bet on Red Show and Sale in Reno, Nevada, where many of his outstanding heifers were sold. He admired his fellow breeders and was grateful to be part of the Red Angus community.

Byron’s love of life also extended to the outdoors where he was an avid fisherman and hunter. He will be missed for his passion, honesty and ability to bring out the best in everyone. May his memory be a blessing.

The family is planning “A Celebration of Life” for spring. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. //

Sale Reports

to Koester Red Angus of North Dakota for $24,000.

VGW Carhart 218, son of HSC Charter 6610D, sold to Schriefer Ranch and Ressler Land & Cattle, both of North Dakota, for $21,000.

VGW Cavalry 203, son of HXC Charter 6610D, sold to Wood V-X Red Angus of Idaho for $16,500.

VGW Flashback 221, a RHRA Frosty 5G son, sold to Gaikowski Ranch of South Dakota for $11,500.

The top-selling registered heifer was VGW 807-Primrose 2289, a VGW Cutting Edge 807 daughter. She sold to Brickhouse Farms of Missouri for $5,000.

Dahlke Red Angus Production Sale March 26, 2023

22 Yearling Red Angus Bulls $5,875

5 Cow-Calf Pairs ......................................... $6,050

2 Bred Heifers ............................................. $4,250

3 Commercial Bred Heifers $2,450

The top-selling bull was Lot 6, Dahlke Rancher 214K, a Bieber CL Energize F121 son. He sold for $24,000 to ST Genetics of Texas.

Lot 1, Dahlke Working Class 231K, a 5L Foreman 2174-370E son, sold to A&R Red Angus of Minnesota for $13,000.

Lot 7, Dahlke Rocky 223K, a Red U2 Reckoning 149A son, sold to Flatbroke Farm of Michigan for $6,500.

Lot 10, Dahlke Atomize 205K, a Bieber CL Atomic C218 son, sold to Craig Yaunick of Minnesota for $6,500.

The top-selling cow-calf pair was Lot 26/26A, Dahlke Ms Hilton 146J, a Dahlke Atomic 85G daughter. She sold to Paurus Red Angus of Minnesota for $10,000 with a bull calf at side. //