Galbraith, Merle Rex (1926-2015)
GALBRAITH, DEMING, BREYFOGLE, ROEMER, MASSEE, RANDALL, RINGGENBERG, CAMPNEY, RISINGER, BENJAMIN, MARSHALL, RAMBO, COMPTON, WILARDSEN, SMITH
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 9/22/2015 at 14:08:36
Merle Rex Galbraith
July 9, 1926 - September 3, 2015Merle Galbraith, age 89, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa, died on Thursday, September 3, 2015, at the Spencer Municipal Hospital in Spencer, Iowa.
Merle Rex Galbraith, a son of Robert and Florence (Deming) Galbraith, was born on a farm near Sac City, Iowa, on July 9, 1926. He lived his youth in the Sac City vicinity and graduated of the Sac City High School.
In 1970, Merle married Joan Breyfogle in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She died in December of 1992. On January 1, 1994, Merle married Phyllis (Randall) Massee Roemer at the Riverside Presbyterian Church in Linn Grove. Merle and Phyllis were blessed with 21 years together. Merle devoted his life totally to farming. He began with his father and brothers near Sac City before moving to the Marathon area where he farmed for himself. In 1994, he moved into Sioux Rapids but didn’t retire from farming until 1996. Indeed, even after he “retired,” he continued to help Brian Halverson on his farm from 1996 until 2013.
A member of the Riverside Evangelical Free Church in Linn Grove, the Farm Bureau for over fifty years, the Sioux Rapids Historical Society, the Dinner Date, and the “Coffee Club,” he played a very active role in his community. In addition, he enjoyed taking his “best girl” out to eat, watching sports, playing solitaire, and cultivating an active interest in Case tractors.
Merle’s life is lovingly remembered and celebrated by his family which includes his wife, Phyllis, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; his children: JoAnn Breyfogle, of Alta, Iowa, Lucinda “Cindy” (Jon) Ringgenberg, of North Mankato, Minnesota, Jane Massee (Kevin Williams), of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and Karen (Dwaine) Campney, of Harvard, Illinois; his son-in-law, Ed Risinger, of Lufkin, Texas; his grandchildren: Debbie (Todd) Benjamin; Brandi, Chad (Laurie), and Jeremy Breyfogle; Nick Marshall; Andrea (Charles) Rambo; Cara, Tanya, and Joseph Ringgenberg; Patrick (Tami) Risinger; and Daniel and Jody Roemer; his great grandchildren: Amelia and Nathaniel Breyfogle; Emleigh, Douglas, and Hannah Compton; and Nicole Rambo; one brother, James (Ann) Galbraith, of Sac City, Iowa; and two sisters: Arlene Wilardsen, of Clive, Iowa, and Ruth Ellen Smith, of Sac City, Iowa; as well as nieces; nephews; other extended family members; and his many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Joan; two daughters, Paulette Breyfogle and Susan Risinger; his son, Ernest Breyfogle; and two brothers, Gerald Galbraith and Leroy Galbraith.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 8, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Church in Sioux Rapids. Burial will be in the Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements.
Blessed be the life and memory of Merle Rex Galbraith
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