Ralph Hans Miller 1914 - 2000

MILLER, TEDSEN, KROPF

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/18/2014 at 17:28:58

Sioux City Journal
1 June 2000

Former Schleswig School employee dies May 15

Ralph Hans Miller was born July 18, 1914, the oldest son of Charlie F. and Emma Tedsen Miller.

He died at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa, Monday, May 15, 2000, at the age of eighty-five.

Ralph was born in Grant Township, Ida County, near Ida Grove, Iowa. He was baptized in Christ on July 18, 1915 at the Friedens Evangelical and Reformed Church in Schleswig by Rev. W.R. Weizeler and later confirmed there on September 24, 1944 by Rev. R.F. Rinne. At the age of five and a-half years, he moved with his family to a farm in Cooper Township, Monona County, near Mapleton, Iowa. Ralph received his education at Cooper Center Number 5 School and after completing his education, he worked as a farmhand in Crawford County.

On December 10, 1938, Ralph was united in marriage to Arlene Louise Kropf at Vermillion, South Dakota and were blessed with the birth of three children, Lornetta Mae, twins, Barbara and Bobby. The couple started farming on March 1, 1939 in Woodbury County near Oto, Iowa for four years. March 1, 1943, the couple moved to Crawford County and farmed until January 4, 1956, when they had a farm sale and moved to their present home in Schleswig.

After moving to Schleswig, Ralph worked at the Schleswig Lumber Yard and various jobs, including janitor in the Schleswig-Ricketts Community School for six years. He also drove a school bus for three years, retiring June 1, 1980.

Ralph was a devoted member of the United Church of Christ in Schleswig, their Brotherhood Organization and the Schleswig Community Club. He was also treasurer of the Sunday School, sang in the Barber Shop Chorus and in church as a soloist and a member of the church choir. Ralph was a very loving and caring husband, father and grandfather whose family was very important to him.

He loved cars, polka, and band dancing and was the social director of the Schleswig Community Club for hiring bands. In his leisure time, Ralph enjoyed traveling, collecting pipes and four and eight track tapes.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Carl Miller.

Survivors include his wife, Arlene of Schleswig; two daughters, Lornetta Mae Bielenberg and her husband, Dale of Englewood, Colorado, Barb Beeck and her husband, Larry of Schleswig; one son, Bobby Miller and his wife, Janis of Plankinton, South Dakota; eight grandchildren, Troy Bielenberg and his wife, Karen, Tracy Morrell and her husband, Jamie, Dawn Lehnert and her husband, Scott, DaNae Krutzfeldt and her husband, Paul, Danielle Wingrove, Kardel Miller and his wife, Kim, Kamden Miller and his wife, Samantha, and Klayton Miller; one sister, Emma Jean Edgington and her husband, Frank of Mapleton; one sister-in-law, Lois Miller of Mapleton; one brother-in-law, Lyle Kropf and his wife Jean of Kiron; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 19, 2000 at the United Church of Christ in Schleswig, Iowa. Rev. Bob Fritzmeier officiated the service and grave side rites held at the Morgan Cemetery in Schleswig.

Dorothy Jessen provided the organ accompaniment for soloist, Rubie Kastner singing, "How Great Thou Art" and "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow".

Those serving as pallbearers were DaNae Krutzfeldt, Danielle Wingrove, Troy Bielenberg, Kamden Miller, Dawn Lehnert, Klayton Miller, Kardel Miller and Tracy Morrell.

Arrangements were made by the Huebner Funeral Home of Schleswig. The family invited everyone to join them in fellowship and lunch at the church, served by the Women's Guild.