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Dr. Theodore R. (“Ted”) Pier passed away in Minneapolis on January 8th. His death resulted from a fall in his home. Ted had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease years ago, and he suffered throughout his affliction with great dignity. He was 75 years old. Ted was the third of four sons born to Elsie and Philip Pier. The family was living in Yankton where Philip was a banker with American State Bank. In the early 1950s Philip’s father, T.C. Pier, asked him to move to Avon to help T.C. and Philip’s brother Ralph run Community Bank. In 1953 the family moved to Avon. Ted attended all 12 years of his schooling in the Avon public school system, graduating in 1966; he was an outstanding scholar. He was active in debate and with his teammates captured the South Dakota State Debate Championship runner-up trophy; he was active in numerous other extra curricular activities. Upon graduation from high school he enrolled in the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities Campus) where his excellent academic achievements continued. While an undergraduate at the U of M Ted met his bride to be: Betsy (Elizabeth) Robinson of Great Falls, MT. They married in 1974. Upon graduation from college, Ted began medical school at the University of Minnesota. After graduating from medical school he was awarded a highly prestigious one year surgical internship at UCSF medical center in San Francisco. Following that he returned to Minnesota to enter the residency program in ophthalmology at U of M. He was then hired as a partner into an established eye care practice with three ophthalmologists in Minneapolis. Ted specialized in eye care for pediatric children and premature babies but he also provided routine eye and surgery care for all patients. He eventually took over the practice as the other physicians reached retirement. Ted was an avid hunter (mostly pheasants, ducks, and geese) and fisherman (anything that was biting, though he probably loved dry fly fishing above all). He and Betsy purchased a home on Flathead Lake in Montana where they entertained family and friends during the summer season. He and Betsy loved to travel and visit new places in the states and around the world. Ted was also an avid reader, from the great classics to murder mysteries and spy stories. Ted is survived by his loving wife Betsy (Elizabeth) Robinson; Fur-son, BuzzB of Edina, MN; brother, Jeff Pier of Arlington, VA; brothers-in-law, Doug Robinson (Diane), Reed F. Robinson (Ann), and Ross Robinson, all of the Twin Cities and Ted Robinson (Stephanie) of Kalamazoo, MI; sisters-in-law, Linda (Tom) Pier of Yakama, WA, Nancy Pier of Gilbert, AZ, and Patricia Meiers (Fred) Pier, Carbondale, CO; favorite nieces and nephews, Leslie Huang (Greg), Christina Pier Cronin (Scott), Catherine Bianchi (Tony), Michael Pier, Jonathan Pier, Reed M. (Nora) Robinson, Alex (Joy) Robinson, Peter Robinson, Maggi Robinson, Grant Robinson, Courtney (Scott) Raecker and fur-nephew, Toby Robinson. Preceded in death by: parents, Philip and Elsie Pier; brothers, Tom and Fred Pier. Memorial service will be announced later. Burial will take place in Lakeside, MT, (MP99). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Ted's name to: Glacier Park Conservancy, PO Box 2749, Columbia Falls, MT 59912. Further information about Ted can be found at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune website: https://www.startribune.com/obituaries/detail/0000447934/