Ralph Klassen

Ralph Donald Klassen was born September 28, 1930, to Cornelius and Paula (Hege) Klassen. He was the youngest of 10 children, and he, along with his sister Edie Lou (Brown) were born about 10 years after their next oldest sibling, making them almost a new family. His oldest sister, Erna (Giesbrecht) was married and had a baby girl about 2 weeks before Ralph was born. He was delivered at the house he was raised in, by an old country doctor well known in the Aberdeen area, named Dr. McKinnon.

Ralph’s parents raised their 10 children on a 40 acre farm on the west side of Aberdeen that his father had broken out of sagebrush. He was a young boy during the Great Depression, so didn’t experience the hardships as much as his parents and siblings did. He remembered that they never had any money, and everything had to be mended, repaired, or recycled. But with a large garden, apple orchard, milk cows, beehives, chickens, and pigs, they never went to bed hungry.

His parents also had a real concern for the souls of their children as well as their bodies, and the family was gathered together every day for reading the Bible. Through that he learned that his sins could be atoned for, by accepting for himself, the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus Christ as his substitute. This had the effect of molding him for the rest of his life, and he was diligent to pass it on to his children and grandchildren.

His father passed away suddenly in 1950, and he found himself taking over the responsibilities of the farm and taking care of his mother. About that time he met a young lady from Grand Rapids, Michigan, named Lois VanHolstyn, with whom he fell in love. They were married on December 19, 1951. Three children were born over the next few years.

Ralph farmed with his brothers for several years, and later went on his own in 1963, growing potatoes, wheat, and later sugar beets. In the 1980s he formed a farming partnership with his two sons and two nephews, Dan & Jim Brown, calling it Ralph D Klassen Farms. In 2002, he sold out his share and retired at age 62.

He made the best of his retirement, growing large gardens and sharing many boxes of produce with whomever he thought could use it. He spent much time with his grandchildren and also traveling to many parts of the world. Ralph and Lois’ travels took them to Canada, Mexico, West Indies, England, Holland, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand, visiting other Christian brothers and sisters. He took a keen interest in those he met, and regularly prayed for many of them for the rest of his life.

After having a heart attack, and later a car accident, his health began to deteriorate over the next few years. He finally passed out of this world and into the presence of Jesus on December 8, 2024. He is survived by Lois, his wife of almost 73 years, son Steve (Barb), daughter Jane (Ralph), and son John (Kathy). Also, 12 grandchildren, 17 great grand-children, and 1 great-great-grandchild.