Ralph Orville Blekfeld 1911-1960

BLEKFELD, FERGUSON, PAULSON, ROSS, JOHNSON, NEUGENT

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/22/2014 at 22:51:58

Ralph O. Blekfeld Dies at 48
Ralph O. [Orville] Blekfeld, 48, of Armstrong, a member of the Emmet County Board of Supervisors, died early today at the Holy Family Hospital in Estherville after suffering a heart attack last night. Mr. Blekfeld suffered the attack at his home in Armstrong and was taken to the hospital by ambulance about midnight last night.

Mr. Blekfeld was born Sept. 18, 1911, at Burt, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Blekfeld. He lived with his parents on their farm at Burt for three years, then moved with them to Fenton, where they farmed for nine years. After leaving Fenton, they lived for one year at each of the following towns, Sexton, Wesley, and Titonka, then moved back to Fenton where they farmed until 1927, when the moved to Armstrong. Mr. Blekfeld received most of his education in the Fenton area schools.

Mr. Blekfeld entered the army in 1942, during World War II, as a combat engineer. During the time he was overseas, Mr. Blekfeld was wounded in battle in Italy, and one of his legs had to be amputated. He received the purple heart and was discharged in April of 1944.

Mr. and Mrs. Blekfeld were married during the war, April 6, 1943. Mrs. Blekfeld is the former Edna Ferguson of Swea City.

Mr. Blekfeld was previously deputy county treasurer and a county road maintenance employe. At the time of his death, he had served two years of a three year term as county supervisor. He represented District 3, Armstrong Grove and Iowa Lake townships.

He was a member of VFW Post 5232 of Armstrong, and a member of the Nazareth Lutheran Church, also of Armstrong.

Survivors include his wife and one daughter, Peggy, 13, of Armstrong. Also surviving are three sisters, Mrs. Ray Paulson of Sumner, Mrs. Henry Ross of Waterloo, and Mrs. T.L. Johnson of Armstrong, three brothers, Howard of Armstrong, Durwood and Thomas of Cherokee, and a half-brother, Glenn Neugent of Fairfield.

Services will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Armstrong, with the Rev. Harlan Blockhus officiating. Slaba Funeral Home of Armstrong is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be in Armstrong Grove Cemetery. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, January 8, 1960)