Ralph D. Rainsberry

Ralph D. Rainsberry, age 79, resident of Prescott, WI, formerly of the Brocket and Lakota area, died Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at the Prescott Nursing and Rehabilitation Community in Prescott, WI.

Ralph Duane Rainsberry was born April 28, 1929 at Brocket, ND, the son of John and Effie (Hem) Rainsberry. He was raised on his parents farm near Brocket and attended the Cleveland School for 8 years. He also attended Brocket High School for 3 years, then graduated from Lakota High School in 1947. Ralph worked in construction, building REA lines and operating Euclides (heavy earth movers) on the Garrison Dam. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 18, 1951. He served in the 1 st Armored Division in the U.S., then the 141 st Tank Battalion as a truck driver in Germany. Ralph was honorably discharge on April 15, 1953 with the rank of Corporal. He then went back to work at the Garrison Dam before moving to the west coast where he worked construction and at a plywood mill in Oregon. Ralph moved to Minneapolis, MN in 1956, where he worked at Thule Greenland. He operated Euclides there, building for the U.S. Air Force. In 1959, he went to work for Kenosha Auto Transport delivering trucks and boats throughout the U.S. and Canada. In 1991 he transferred to Auto Truck Transport, where he worked until retiring. His hobbies include fishing and traveling.

Ralph's family includes 2 brothers, John (Clara) Rainsberry of Banning, CA and Davis (Ramona) Rainsberry of Lakota, ND; 1 sister, Doris Severtson of Brocket, ND; 5 nephews, Jack Rainsberry of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Gary Rainsberry of San Bernardino, CA, Doug Rainsberry of Fontana, CA, David Severtson of Brocket, ND, and Norris Severtson of Lakota, ND; 4 nieces, Nancy White of Alta Loma, CA, Bonnie Meabon of Montrose, CO, Sharon Rainsberry of Olympia, WA, and Delores Webster of St. Vincent, MN; and his special friend, Sue Schafer of Prescott, WI.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Les; and a brother-in-law, Norman Severtson.

Ralph's Funeral Service will be held at United Lutheran Church of Brocket, ND, on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be the Reverend Mark Kolbo. The organist will be Phyllis Beck and the soloist will be Sharon Olson. Interment will be in the Lakota Cemetery. Casketbearers will be Norris Severtson, Randy Sundeen, Thomas Rainsberry, Merle Rainsberry, Glenn Urevig, and Curtis Oseby. Military Honors will be provided by the Royal O. Gray American Legion Post #61 of Brocket. Visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.

Arrangements with the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota, ND.