DALE VERNON RALSTON 1925-2000

EVANS, RALSTON, KING, LIVINGOOD, GELO, SCHUTTE, OTEY, SEAMAN, ANDERSON, TOPEL

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/23/2005 at 20:41:48

Dale Vernon Ralston, 74, Lenexa, Kansas, died Friday, Oct. 6, 2000 at his home. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Oct. 10 at Salem Lutheran Church, Lenexa. Burial was in the Lenexa Cemetery.

Dale was born Dec. 21, 1925 in Waukon, the son of Earl J. and Phoena A. (Evans) Ralston. He was raised on his parents' farm three miles southwest of Rossville. He attended Bear Hollow country school until grade eight, and completed studies at Waukon High School.

Dale was a WW II veteran. In 1944, he entered the United States Army in Fort Snelling, MN, and was sent to the Philippines.

In 1946, he was honorably discharged from the Army in Fort Hood, TX. Dale married Mildred. E. King on June 26, 1948, by the Justice of the Peace in Shawnee, KS. He lived in the Kansas City area for 11 years, working for the Watson Brothers Trucking Company.

He moved to Iowa in 1959. During his four-year stay in Iowa, Dale operated his own sawmill, farmed and raised turkeys. Also in Iowa, he was baptized as an adult with his family at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Postville. In 1963 he moved back to Kansas, living in Lenexa until the time of his death.

He worked 25 years for the L. D. Gates Trucking Company prior to retirement, hauling the Kansas City Star newspaper out of town each day. He also delivered the Lenexa News during the 1970's and early 80's. Dale and his wife, Mildred, ran a janitorial service for 20 years. He was a member of Salem Lutheran Church and was active as a church council member in the 1960's and 70's. He sang in the church choir and was the janitor for five years. Dale was active as a Boy Scout leader, as his son belonged to the Boy Scouts.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred; a brother, Curtis Ralston; three sisters, Buelah Ralston-Livingood, Helen Ralston-Gelo, and Marjorie Ralston-Schutte.

Dale's survivors include his five children: Cavin Ralston, Olathe, KS; Robert Otey, Kansas City, MO; Diantha Ralston- Seaman, Edwards, MO; Elaine Ralston-Anderson, Prairie Village, KS and Kimberly Ralston, Lenexa; his siblings, Gerald Ralston, Escondido, CA; Leon Ralston, Dubois, WY; Roberta Ralston-Livingood, Waukon, Iowa and Lucille Ralston-Topel, Milwaukee, WI; 20 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren.

Dale was a wonderful father, grandfather, and friend to many people, but the most important thing in his life was his wonderful and never-ending faith in God. Dale was fond of saying, "You can tell a Christian by his smile."

Postville Herald-Leader - contributed by Mary Durr