Randall Dale Raschein Sr., whose life focused on family, faith and tractors, died April 9 at the age of 87.

Raschein — known as Randy Sr. to friends — founded Farmland Tractor Supply in Tangent, Ore., which has 25 workers, six of them family members.

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Business grew from salvage yard to international player

He began the business with his wife, Marlene Raschein, and son, Randy Raschein Jr., in 1980 after years of working in the tractor industry as a mechanic and dealership manager. A few years later, daughter Suzanne Klein joined the business.

Though Raschein was mechanically gifted, “Dad was probably a better business guy than a mechanic,” said Randy Raschein Jr., who serves as manager for Farmland Tractor.

Their business survived through hard work and its unique niche.

“Out here, in the Northwest, we were kind of the only tractor salvage yard,” Randy Raschein Jr. said. Before the internet, people would come to the store from throughout the region for new, used and remanufactured parts.

Today, they can shop the store online or continue to stop by. The business also has a full service machine shop able to handle repairs and custom work.

Randy Raschein Jr. said the business remains in a strong position and is set to be passed down to the next generation.

A true family business

Randy Raschein Sr., a resident of Shedd, Ore., was the friendly face of the family-owned business.

Farmland Tractor was the sort of place where Linn County locals would not only buy parts, but show up simply to visit.

The business showroom also served as a second living room, with children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren visiting, and photos of family, friends and pets displayed on the walls.

Marks on the office wall showed the height of children from different generations as they grew up.

Growing up around tractors

Raschein was born Aug. 21, 1936, in Wisconsin, and grew up with conservative values around an Allis Chalmers dealership owned by his parents.

He moved to California and worked for International Harvester for many years, then moved to Oregon and was a partner in a Junction City farm machinery company.

When that outfit closed its doors due to a recession, Raschein kept the parts contract with International Harvester and started Farmland Tractor Supply.

In a 2016 interview, Raschein said a tractor salvage yard would find a market with farmers who were patching old equipment instead of buying new.

Outside work, Raschein loved to collect tractor memorabilia, restore antique tractors and raise Haflinger horses. He also enjoyed spending time at the family ranch in Eastern Oregon and spending winters in Wickenburg, Ariz.

He also supported Linn and Benton County 4-H, FFA and county fairs, as well as school programs.

He is survived by his wife, Marlene Raschein; his children, Suzanne Klein, Sheryl Teague, Randall Raschein Jr., and Richard Raschein; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., April 22 at the New Hope Church in Albany, Ore.