Slauson, Ralph Edward (1917-2001)

SLAUSON, RYNERSON, FRALEY, MILES, LOMAX

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Wednesday, October 3, 2001

Ralph E. Slauson, 84, Blairsburg, died Monday, Oct. 1, 2001 at Crestview Manor in Webster City. Funeral services were held Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Foster Funeral Home with Rev. Richard Layman officiating. Burial will be in the Blairsburg Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday and prior to the service on Wednesday. Military rites will be conducted by American Legion Post # 633.

Ralph Edward Slauson, son of Charles and Ida Rynerson Slauson, was born July 11, 1917 at Stuart. He graduated from Stuart High School in 1935. During World War II, he served with the U.S. Army-34th Infantry Division in North Africa and Italy. He was honored by several Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals. On Feb. 9, 1945, he married Bernadine Kathryn Fraley at Cincinnati, Ohio. Following his discharge,
the couple farmed near Nevada, Colo, and Collins. In 1957, they moved to a farm near Blairsburg. He retired from farming in 1982.

Mr. Slauson is survived by his wife, Bernadine, sons and daughters-in-law, Jack and Susan Slauson, Jefferson, James and Carol Slauson, Kansas City, Mo., Larry and Suzanne Slauson, Belle Plaine, daughter and son-jn-law, Maris-Jo and Roland Miles, Burnsville, Minn.; 9 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, Sister Louise Lomax of Stuart, several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sisters and 6 brothers.

He was a member of the Williams United Methodist Church, the church board, past commander of the American Legion Post #633 of Williams, in the early 60s he worked for the ASCS-USDA farm program; in the 60s was Williams town marshall, enjoyed bowling, he smoked cigars, chewed tobac­co, spoke plainly, liked people and was a good storyteller; he took great enjoyment from his grandchildren and great-grand­children. He cared for Bernadine in their home before she went to the care center. Due to his own declining health, and to be closer to Bernadine, he first moved to an apartment and within three months, moved into Crestview in September of this year.