Ralph Ferguson

Grand Island, NE- Ralph Ferguson age 86, of Miller, NE, formerly of Ansley died Tuesday January 8, 2013 at the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island, NE. Funeral services will be held on Friday January 11, 2013 at 2:00 PM at the First Christian Church in Ansley, NE with Rev. Mel Shepherd officiating. Burial will be in the Ansley Cemetery with Military Honors. Visitation will be held on Thursday 8 AM to 8 PM at Govier Bros. Mortuary and Friday morning 11:00 AM until service time at the church in Ansley. Memorials are to the Kidney Foundation. Ralph is survived by his wife Terrie of Miller, NE, son Rick Ferguson of Omaha, three step children; Mike and Marlin Winter, and Bev Pop. Brothers; Lyle, Don, Lawrence, Norman, Bennie, sisters; Evelyn Reich, and Betty (Jerry) Johnson. Three grandchildren, five great grandchildren, three step grandchildren and six step great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife LaVada, a daughter Gail, parents, and his parents. Ralph Roy was born on July 7, 1926, 12 miles south of Berwyn, NE, to Elmer and Goldie (Roades) Ferguson, oldest of nine children. Ralph was named after his twin uncles Ralph and Roy. Ralph lived around Ansley, NE all of his life. At the age of 15, he ran a Road Grader, Broken Bow to Eddyville. Ralph attended three years of high school at Ansley, and in November of 2011 he received his high school diploma at the Nebraska Veterans Home. At the age of 17, he went to the Sea Bee’s during WW II, serving in the South Pacific and received many metals including the Purple Heart. On October 18, 1948 he was married to LaVada Yohn. Ralph and LaVada lived in various communities and traveled extensively with Ralph’s construction work for Brown and Denesia. In 1986, they returned to Ansley, NE. Mrs. Ferguson died in 1995 and also his daughter Gail died in 1995. On October 16, 1998, Ralph was married to Terrie (Burns) Winter. They made their home in Miller, NE. In July of 2011 Mr. Ferguson moved to the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island. Ralph greatly appreciated the staff at the Nebraska Veterans Home and all those who came to visit him.