Basin Electric original incorporator Ralph T. Dennis
Ralph Dennis was instrumental in forming the Inter-County Electric Association and served many years as director.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
- September 2, 2011
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| Ralph T. Dennis |
Ralph Tanner Dennis was born Sept. 27, 1899, to Maud Florence (Tanner) and Benamah Albert Dennis in Gravity, IA. He attended rural school and graduated from Gravity High School. His family moved to Fremont, NE, where he attended Midland College, majoring in business administration and accounting.
In the spring of 1923, the family moved to a farm in Spring Lake Township, Hanson County, near Farmer, SD. On Sept. 10, 1941, he married Mildred Grout in Mitchell, SD. Mildred received her teaching certificate and taught in Davison County, Tripp, Alexandria and Farmer, all in South Dakota. She also served for two years as county superintendent of Hanson County Schools. They continued to farm for several years.
He was instrumental in forming the Inter-County Electric Association and served many years as director. He was also a director of East River Electric Power Cooperative from 1954 to 1967 and received their Eminent Service Award. It was during this time he became an incorporator of Basin Electric on May 5, 1961. He was also a director of the rural water district.
Mildred and Ralph sold the farm and moved to Alexandria in 1973; in 1987 they moved to Mitchell.
Ralph died on May 10, 1990. Mildred passed away on Dec. 22, 2000.
As life-long United Methodists and supporters of Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD, Mildred and Ralph remembered the university in their estate plans. The funds established the Ralph & Mildred Dennis Endowed Memorial Scholarship. It is designated for students with modest means, who are majoring in math or education.
(Thanks goes to Dakota Wesleyan for providing much of the information for this profile.)
On May 5, 1961, 69 people from several states gathered at the Patterson Hotel in Bismarck, ND, to sign Articles of Incorporation for Basin Electric. Their names are on a brass plaque immediately outside of the main entrance to the Headquarters building. Kathi Risch, Basin Electric senior staff writer/editor, has been seeking information about the original incorporators and compiling these profiles.
In the next several months, prior to the cooperative’s 50th anniversary celebration to be held at the 2011 annual meeting on Nov. 9, Risch will share what she has uncovered. If you have information you would like to share about a Basin Electric original incorporator and you haven’t been contacted, please call Risch at 701-557-5606 or send information, photo scans, etc. to krisch@bepc.com.
See all the original incorporators profiled to date.
Headquarters
1717 East Interstate Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503-0564 USA
Phone: 701.223.0441
Basin Electric Power Cooperative will provide cost-effective wholesale energy along with products and services that support and unite rural America.
