Ralph Christian Toft

of Spirit Lake formerly of Royal, Iowa. Ralph Christian Toft was born to Chris and Martha Hjelm Toft on February 3, 1926 on the family farm south of Royal. He was educated in a country school south of Royal and graduated from Royal High School in 1943. He was united in marriage to Ferne Lohof on December 22, 1946. After their marriage, they farmed on the Toft Farm near Royal for many years, until retiring and moving to Spirit Lake in 1992. Ralph was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Royal and was on the building committee and chairman of the finance committee for the new church, which was built in 1968. He was also a past member of the Lion's Club and was involved in helping to raise money for the Royal Memorial Park. For almost 50 years, Ralph took pride in being a director of Willow Creek Cemetery near Royal. Ralph was a very competitive and compassionate man. His passions in life included his family and grandchildren, listening to the corn grow on a hot summer nights, playing cards with friends, bowling, enjoying the lake with family, sitting on the deck with Ferne on nice evenings enjoying 'paradise.' Ralph had been a resident of Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake, IA since June of 2009. He passed there on Sunday, March 25, 2012 at the age of 86. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Marion Dumkrieger and infant sister, Marilyn; brother-in-laws: Myron "Turp" Swanson and Ralph Dumkrieger of Royal, Bill Brugger of Torrance, CA and Ray Lohof of Germany. Ralph is survived by his loving wife, Ferne, of 65 years; sister, Mildred Swanson of Royal; sister-in-laws: Ruth Brugger of Torrance, CA and Marianne Lohof of Germany; sons: Gary (Mary Kay Lux) Toft of Arnolds Park and Greg and (Renee) Toft of Spencer; daughter, Diana (Jim) Mingus of Spencer; grandchildren: Gabe (Maggie Fliss) Toft of Spirit Lake, Mariah (Scott) Tackett of Westlake Village, CA, Nathan (Dr. Dawn) Toft of Sioux City, Lathe (Nicole) Toft of Spencer, Lexi Toft of West Des Moines, Sara (Josh) Johnson of Ann Arbor, MI, Mara (Chris) Seversen of Spencer, Christa (Ryan) Opheim of Minneapolis, MN, Carolyn (Zach Stock) Lux of Denver, CO and David (Kori) Lux of Everly; great grandchildren: Emelynn Toft, Ruth and Wyatt Tackett, Lauren and Owen Toft, Davin and Dakoda Lux; Carson Wendel; Madeline Johnson; Aiden, Braden, and Macie Seversen; and many other relatives and friends.

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