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Ralph Porchof Wanblee, South Dakota, died on Friday, May 27, 2022
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Ralph Roy Porch was born on March 17, 1946 in Kadoka, South Dakota to Cyrus and Dorothy (Hockenbary) Porch. He grew up on the family ranch located on Bear Creek, north of Hisle, South Dakota. At a young age Ralph started hunting with his coon dogs on the Bear Creek. He continued to have coon dogs and coyote hounds for years. Ralph attended all twelve years of school in Kadoka, where he exceled in football, rodeo, and basketball. He graduated from Kadoka High School in 1964.
Ralph was drafted into the army in 1966, served in the Vietnam War and was stationed in Germany until 1968. While in Germany, he became good friends with Gary Swartz of Minnesota and Bob Scott of Iowa. They have remained in contact with each other throughout the years.
On August 16, 1969 Ralph was united in marriage to Diana (Ward) Porch. To this union were born four children: Shannon, Shayne, Shawn, and Shari. Ralph was a member of the Presbyterian Church and American Legion Post 240 of Martin, South Dakota.
Ralph bought his first registered quarter horse mare, Rum Cake Leone, when he was 10 years old. Ralph’s passion for raising horses continued on from there and in January 2022 he was honored as a 50-year member of the American Quarter Horse Association. Through the years he passed on to his children and grandchildren his love for raising horses and the cowboy way of life. The ranch, cattle and horses brought many special people into Ralph’s life. Some of his greatest memories were his summers spent in the arena at home with his family and friends; teaching, learning and laughing. Ralph also made many great and lifelong friends on the rodeo trail traveling with his kids to Little Britches, 4H and High School Rodeos. Ralph was very proud of his Country, his horses and most of all his family.
The highlight of Ralph’s life was getting to spend treasured time with all of his grandkids, Brendon, Tara, Katie, Kelsey, Dalton, Shaylee, Peyton, Haylee, Kaisa and Jess, teaching them to shoot guns, playing games, and telling stories and jokes.
In his later years, if Ralph wasn’t home watching over things on the ranch, he could be found at the local feedstore, Double H Feed in Kadoka, drinking coffee and giving the guys a hard time.
Ralph is survived by his wife Diana of 52 years; daughters Shannon (Pete) Reinert and Shari (William) Davey; sons Shayne (Heidi) Porch and Shawn (Tashia) Porch; his brothers Stanley Porch and Roger (Lois) Porch; sister-in-law Pat Porch; brothers-in-law John Ward and Tom (Max) Ward; sisters-in-law Judy Livermont and Beverly Byrne; grandkids Brendon Porch, Tara Reinert, Katie Dibbern, Kelsey Lensegrav, Dalton Porch, Shaylee Porch, Peyton Porch, Haylee Porch, Kaisa Davey, Jess Davey; many nieces and nephews.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; Cyrus and Dorothy Porch; brother, Boyd Porch; sister, Carol (Porch) Jeffords; sisters-in-law, Shirley Porch and Little Bev Ward; brothers-in-law, Steve Jeffords, Harry (Butch) Livermont and Les Byrne; niece, Kristi (Porch) Thompson; nephews, Joe Byrne, Jeramy Ward and Don Clay Word; parents-in-law Bud & Lavon Ward; friends, Mitch Olney, Paul Thomas and Pat Weaver.
Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 2, at the New Kadoka Gymnasium, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 3, at the New Kadoka Gymnasium, with Pastor Jesse Taylor officiating.
Interment with military honors will be held at the Kadoka Cemetery.
A memorial has been established to the Kadoka Buffalo Stampede and the Kadoka Ambulance and Kadoka Volunteer Fire Department.
FUNERAL SERVICE
Friday, June 3, 2022 - 10:30 a.m.
New Kadoka Gym
Kadoka, South Dakota
CLERGY
Pastor Jesse Taylor
MUSIC
Vernon Ward and KeAnna Hodson - Vocalists
“Dancing In The Sky”
“One Day At A Time”
READER
Joe Stoddard
USHERS
Jerry Sharp - Ted Hicks
Tate Thompson - Brett Bonenberger
PALLBEARERS
Travis Thompson - Roddy Thompson
Dalton Porch - Brendon Porch - Cleve Prichard
John Ward - Tom Ward - Ken Lensegrav
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance
INTERMENT WITH MILITARY HONORS
Kadoka Cemetery
Kadoka, South Dakota