On Tuesday July 27, 2021, Ralph Verner Larsen passed away peacefully at the age of 79.

Ralph was born on January 15, 1942 in Wauchope, Saskatchewan to (Hans Kristian) Einar and Johanne (Dam) Larsen. He did his first 8 years of schooling in Wauchope, his ninth by correspondence and 10-12 in Redvers. He spent several years working on seismic and pipeline crews and for SaskPower. As he liked to say, by that time he had saved $5 so he could start farming. He purchased his first quarter of land in 1967 and farmed in partnership with his father for several years. He purchased the home quarter when he was married in 1969, and the remaining quarters in 1974. It took him 40 years to get that $5 back, renting part of the farmland in 2004 and continuing to slow down until he sold the land in 2010. He moved to Outlook in 2010 to be closer to his children without actually having to move to the city.

Ralph enjoyed working with animals. He started raising pigs on his father’s farm as a teenager and continued until 1994. His cattle were the last thing he gave up before retirement. He preferred cattle over sheep -- he took care of Leo’s sheep while Leo was in university but didn’t miss them after Leo sold them.

On July 25, 1969 he married Frances Roberta Maddaford and together they raised four children: Bryan, David, Wayne and Joan (Hamilton).

In childhood Ralph enjoyed 4-H and especially enjoyed a 4-H trip in 1958 he took with Keith McCaskell to Iowa. As a young adult he enjoyed playing hot corner for the Wauchope baseball team. During his farming years his time was spent farming, on his children and being a good neighbor. In retirement he took some bowling lessons during a winter in Texas and became quite good at it, occasionally being able to beat the resident pro at 10 pin in Texas and at 5 pin in Saskatoon.

Ralph was predeceased by his mother (2005) father (1985) and brother Paul (1957). He is survived by his wife Frances, his siblings Ken, Leo (Laverne), Betty (Tony) Peter, Myrna (Hughie) Kydd and Egon (Cindy). He has eight grandchildren: Tessa and Ruby by Bryan and Bethany Jackson; Jack and Henry by David and Allison Schwanbeck; William, Annamaria, Rosalie and Aksel by Joan and Andrew Hamilton.

Funeral service will be held Friday, August 6th at 11am at Dannevirke Lutheran Church in Redvers. A viewing will precede at 10am. A condensed memorial at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Outlook will occur on Sunday afternoon at 1pm.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Saskatchewan Lung Association.