Ralph Van Wyhe, 87, of Salem passed away on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.  Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at Zion Lutheran Church in Canistota.  The service will celebrate both Ralph’s and Shirley’s lives.  Visitation will begin at 9 am on Tuesday, November 30 with family present at 6 pm and a 7 pm prayer service at Kinzley Funeral Home in Salem.

Ralph Lowell Van Wyhe was born July 1, 1934 on a farm near Ireton, Iowa to Peter and Helen (Ganzeveld) Van Wyhe.  He graduated from Ireton High School and then served in the Marine Corps.  Ralph met Shirley Klueber at a dance at Swan Lake.  They married on December 27, 1958.   Ralph farmed near Salem until 1990. He then joined the Peace Corps and served in Thailand. He enjoyed various trips in the US and abroad, especially a trip with his grandson Darin to Washington, DC to the Korean War Memorial Dedication. Ralph and Shirley spent 20 years wintering in Florida.

Ralph was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Canistota as well as an active member in the Canistota American Legion. Ralph enjoyed planting trees, gardening and maintaining the farm.  Ralph loved getting together with locals for coffee and conversation.

Survivors include:  daughters, Lisa (Gary) Sabers and Bridgett (Steve) Burling all of Rapid City, SD; grandchildren, Jeremy (Erin) and Darin (Jennie) Sabers and Nathan Burling; great-grandchildren, Andy, Lexi and Bodhi; and siblings, Donald (Dorothy) Van Wyhe of Ireton, IA, Jeanine Myer of Alta, IA and Daniel Van Wyhe of Ireton, IA.  He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, a son, Eric, and sister, Judy Bauer.  Memorials can be made to Zion Lutheran preschool in Canistota.

 

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