Title	Mr.
Last Name	Fifield
First Name	Ralph
Middle Name	Herbert
Maiden Name
Nick Name
Place of Birth	Dexter, ME
Date of Birth	1881-05-03
Place of Death	Billings, MT
Date of Death	1964-11-22
Publication	The Eastern Gazette 1-21-1965, p.2
Obituary	RALPH H. FIFIELD Word has been received of the death of Ralph Herbert Fifield, 83, in Billings, Mont., on Nov. 22. A retired engineer, he was often referred to as the dean of Montana civil engineers. Mr. Fifield was born May 3, l881, at Dexter, Maine, and was graduated from the University of Maine in 1905. Shortly after graduation he went to Montana in the employ of the Bureau of Reclamation on the Lower Yellowstone Project. In March, 1908, Mr. Fifield returned to Maine and married Ola Florence Bailey of Dexter. After seven years on canal location and construction on the Lower Yellowstone and Milk River Project, he was transferred to the Huntley Project in April, 1912 as manager in charge of operation, maintenance and construction. He remained until retiring from the reclamation service in February, 1920. Mr. Fifield served two years as chief engineer of the Billings Bench Water Association. He then organized a consulting firm, serving clients in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington. For nine years he was a member of the Billings school board and served as district director of the Works Progress Administration. He organized 21 Eastern Montana counties in May, 1936, and accepted a permanent post with the State water Conservation Board. During the next 20 years, he supervised design and construction of 22 dams and other irrigation works before resigning Aug. 1, 1956. At the age of 75 he gave up all engineering activities. Surviving are his widow; two sons, Robert W. Fifield of El Centro, Calif., and John G. Fifield of Bunkie, La.; a daughter, Mrs. Verniece F. Dailey of 1010 N. 32nd St., and nine grandchildren. He was the brother of the late Mrs. Albert Lyford.