The couple initially moved to Minneapolis as R.B. continued his employment with the Gamble Co. Then, in 1942 R.B. joined the U.S. Army and served in World War II and was stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines. During this time, Fran moved to Washington, D.C. and worked for the FBI. R.B. received a Bronze Star for his service as a Warrant Officer in the Army.

   After the war, R.B. was unsettled with the congestion of life in Minneapolis and the “clatter” of street cars. On April 1, 1946, Fran and R.B. took their savings and purchased, from R.M. Horr, a jewelry manufacturing company that would become the Wheeler Jewelry Manufacturing Company Inc. The “shop” (as the company was known to the family) was a dominant part of R.B.’s life. Fran worked alongside her husband hand engraving rings in the early years of the business and later proficiently looking after the accounts.

   R.B.and Fran loved the Lemmon community and where R.B. was always interested in economic development projects of any kind Fran held the Lemmon School System, the Lemmon Library, the Lemmon Area Medical Association, and the Grand River Museum close in her philanthropic interests. Both were long time member of Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church and while Fran held the position of Sunday School Superintendent, Cub Scout Den Mother, and was an active member of the 20th Century Women’s Club, R.B. held many public service positions in the Lemmon area including Fire Chief, Mayor, Perkins County Commissioner, Lemmon School Board Member, and whe as on the Street Committee when Lemmon obtained “paved” streets for the first time. R.B. also enjoyed many philanthropic interests that supported the Lemmon area and was very involved in the establishment of the Lemmon Area Medical Association. In 1995, R.B. was honored as he was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame.