Funeral Service for Ralph M. Sandman, 73, of Browns Valley, MN will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 10:30 A.M. at Grace Lutheran Church, Sisseton, SD with Rev. William Schruba officiating. Organist will be Estelle Pearson and soloist Aaron Deutsch. Pallbearers will be Chuck Baus, Gene Kraus, Dave Kuschel, Joe Kuschel, Lynn Nigg and Dale Oletzke. Honorary Pallbearers will be Janee Wallenstein, Leigh Wallenstein, Erik Tasa, Christopher Tasa, Matt Zacharias, Aaron Zacharias and Les Goodsell. Interment will be in the Sisseton Cemetery, Sisseton, SD. Visitation will be Friday, July 17, 2009 from 2:00 to 7:00 P.M. with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Cahill Funeral Chapel, and one hour prior to services at the Church. Cahill Funeral Chapel of Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.
Ralph Max Sandman was born on December 11, 1935 to Ralph C. and Eunice (Spencer) Sandman in Sisseton, SD. He attended School in Sisseton, graduating in 1955. He was employed with Hyman Transportation; Landsbergers Creamery, Schiltz Foods, Ellsworth Oil Co., and Baus Oil Co. all of Sisseton as a truck driver, retiring in the spring of 2003. Ralph was united in marriage to Vonnie Zacharias December 29, 1972 at Grace Lutheran Church in Sisseton. He was baptized and became a member of Grace Lutheran Church when he was an adult where he served as an usher and was a member of Grace Lutheran's 50th anniversary planning committee. They purchased a farm in Grant Township in 1972 and had a small cow-calf operation. Ralph enjoyed the rural life and he and Vonnie worked as a team taking care of the farm. Ralph was a lifelong member of the Hills and Valley Riding Club, served on the Reick Cemetery Board, Rural Sisseton. Ralph served in the National Guard for 8 years and also the US Army from September 4, 1958 to February 10, l959. He was active in his graduating class's reunion plans. Ralph enjoyed horseback riding, working on the farm, attending Sisseton girl's basketball games and life in general.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Vonnie; brother-in-law David Wallenstein of Sisseton; sister-in-law Cindy Zacharias of Nicollet, MN; sister –in-law and brother-in-law Linda and Doug Tasa of Coon Rapids, MN; his mother-in-law Evelyn Zacharias of Browns Valley, MN; niece Janee Wallenstein; nephews Leigh Wallenstein, Erik Tasa, Christopher Tasa, Matt Zacharias and Aaron Zacharias, and two grand nephews, Jesse and Luke Tasa, and several cousins.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; sister Sally Wallenstein; father-in-law Ernie Zacharias; and brother-in-law Jim Zacharias.