Ralph Westaby

Madison, SD

1940, 789, Este, F-3,

Ralph Westaby, 69, died Friday in McKennan Hospital. He was born April 27, 1919, in Madison, SD. He grew up in Madison and attended Franklin and Orland schools in rural Madison. He served in the Army from 1941 to 1945.

He married Bernice Moose on Aug. 1, 1942, in Vancouver, Wash. He farmed in Lake County from 1945 to 1948, then lived in Rockford, Ill., until 1951 and I worked as a machinist. He then moved to Volga, where he owned and operated Westaby's Clover Farm Store until 1964.

He married Vera DeKraai on Nov. 30, 1964, in Brookings. He owned and operated the Knotty Pine Supper Club in Elkton from 1964 to 1976, then moved to Lester, Iowa, where he owned and operated the Lester Inn until 1978. He then worked as a real estate agent from 1978 until 1985. He also worked at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport during that time.

He was a member of Augustana Lutheran Church, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Elks Lodge.

Survivors include his wife, Vera; one son, Tom, Sioux Falls; one daughter, Mrs. Warren (Barb) Wiese, Ortonville, Minn.; five stepsons: Roger and Gordon DeKraai, both of Vancouver; Darrel and Gary DeKraai, both of Huron; and Randy DeKraai, Willmar, Minn.; two stepdaughters: Mrs. Doc (Lois) Emery, Portland, Ore.; and Mrs. David (Donita) Stevison, Vancouver; 18 grandchildren and step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; four brothers: Francis Harter, Beaverton, Ore.; Ray Harter, Madison; Harold Harter, Peco Rivera, Calif.; and Jim Westaby, Sioux Falls; and three sisters: Edna Wiese, Madison; Agnes De- mick, Fullerton, Calif.; and Florence Demick, Beaverton.

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