Beanie Hobgood

Beanie Hobgood, 90, died on February 21, 2025 in John Day, Oregon.

Beanie was born on September 4, 1934 in Bagley MN to Eri and Ethel Ingalls and was one of 11 children.

Beanie's family moved to John Day when she was very young.  She attended grade school & Grant High School thru her sophomore year.

Beanie met William (Bill) Hobgood at the John Day Rodeo when she was a Princess in the Queens court.  Bill was competing in Saddle Bronc and Calf Roping. When Beanie exited the arena from the Grand Entry, on a dare, Bill jumped on the back of Beanie's horse to introduce himself.

Bill & Beanie eloped in 1951.  They married in Reno, Nevada.  They drove to Oklahoma for their honeymoon and also to meet Bill's family.  When they returned home, they rented a small house & started their family.  They also started raising Quarter Horses.

Beanie became pregnant with their 1st son, William Allen Jr.  The following year she gave birth to their 2nd son, Randy Buck.  In 1955, she gave birth to their daughter, JeriLynn.

Beanie worked a number of jobs through the years.  In 1978, she took the Civil Service exam for the US Postal Service.  She was hired & worked at the Portland Main Office until retiring.

Beanie's favorite thing to do, was to ride and spend time with her family.  She and Bill played volleyball in a league in Happy Valley. She also liked to bowl.  She joined a league in John Day and was asked to go, but declined, as she didn't want to leave her kids when they were young.

She competed in Western Pleasure and Trail Riding events.  She also showed in Halter Classes and usually took 1st place. 

While attending a Queen's reunion of Grant County Fair, she entered a game of musical ropes.  (Musical ropes is a game similar to musical chairs only on horseback with hanging ropes instead of chairs). The one who captures the last rope wins.  She had never competed in that game before, but she was riding their ranch stallion, whom Bill had trained.  She knew Red could out turn any horse she had ever ridden, so after changing saddles to help keep her seat, she entered the last round & captured the final rope.

Her family would take two weeks of the kids summer vacations to go camping & riding the trails on Mt Hood.  After her kids left home, she would often join her friends to ride on various ranches in Eastern Oregon & the trails in the Wallowa Mountains.

Bill bought her a sewing machine & she learned to sew Western style shirts.  She designed, made the patterns.  The shirts were made with intricate yolks on the front, back & up the sleeve.  She always made them with snap fronts & cuffs rather than buttons. Later, she made the blinkers and saddle pad covers with their ranch brand for their running horses.

While in Halfway, she a leader for a 4-H group and made matching shirts for the kids in her group.

Beanie enjoyed spending time with her kids & their friends.  It was usually her kid’s friends who would invite her join them to play ball, go rafting on the Clackamas River or whatever activity the group had planned.  (They especially liked it when she brought the food she would often make for the occasion.)

While living in Halfway, the family often went boating & water skiing.  Beanie was a big football fan, her favorite teams were the Seattle Seahawk's and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Beanie enjoyed life & she lived it, she didn't sit around and watch it go by.  She played a very active role in everything that came her way. Beanie always wanted the best for her family and tried to ensure her kids had all they needed to have a good life.  I believe she was successful.

She is survived by her sons William and Buck; daughter JeriLynn; two grandchildren Randy and Heather; brother Aaron (Ann) Ingalls.

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Beanie may do so to Helping Hands Rescue and Equine Therapy, Inc through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834.  Online condolences may be shared at, www.tamipinevalleyfuneralhome.com