Ralph Jensen was born August 16, 1927 to parents Sam and Alice (Nelson) Jensen on a farm in Grant County SD. As a toddler he and his parents moved to Viborg, where he received his grade and high school education, was baptized, confirmed and married in Our Saviors Lutheran Church.
He enlisted in the US Navy in 1945 after which he attended USD for a short time before going to Parker to operate the Council Oaks store. While in Parker he joined the Lions Club, American Legion, played on the softball team and was treasurer of the Turner County fair. There he met and married Alta Larson and their first son Gary was born. In 1953, they moved to Beresford to manage the Council Oak store and in 1961, he built his own grocery store. He became the father of two more sons and a daughter.
Ralph was active in the community, president of the PTA, Chamber of Commerce, Golf Club, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, United Fund and Lions Club. He was worshipful master of the Masonic Lodge, a Shriner and served on the boards of Bethesda and Old Towne dinner theatre. He served on the study committee for the new library and push button telephone and the new school.
In 1954 Ralph and Rev. Kohler started the Beresford Lions Club. He served as zone chairman, deputy district governor and district governor. In 2006 he was inducted into the SD Lions Hall of Fame. He and Alta enjoyed many trips to district and international conventions. He and several business people started the United Fund in Beresford. He worked on many committees at Emmanuel Lutheran, sung in the choir for 50 plus years and donated many hours to church service.
In 1972 Ralph became Administrator of Dowel Rummel Village in Sioux Falls. While there, he attended Lions and was on the emergency rescue board. After retirement he had his own landscape business and window treatment business.
He is preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Maynard, 2 brothers-in-law, 1 sister-in-law and granddaughter Angela, and parents-in-law Odin and Maggie Larson.
He leaves to mourn, wife Alta, sons Gary (Julie) Rapid City, Bob (Deb) Rapid City, Tom (Val) Sartell, MN , daughter Debra of Chicago, 9 grand children, one great grandson and brother Jim (Melinda) of Brookings, sister-in-law Bernice Sweeter of Canton, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
Ralph enjoyed music and sports and he and Alta attended all the in town games they could. He and partner Cortland Carnes enjoyed many good games of golf which Dad always won!
Funeral services will be at 11AM Monday, December 13, 2010 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Beresford. Ralph donated his body to the USD Medical School. Cremation and internment will occur at a later date.