Dyck, Ralph Carl (1921-2006)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 May 22 p. 9

Birth date: 1921 Jan 12

text of obituary:

RALPH DYCK

Ralph Carl Dyck, 85, of West Plains, Mo., died May 9, 2006. He was born Jan. 12, 1921, to John and Anna Bartel Dyck in Newton, Kan.

He was educated in Elbing, Kan., and attended one year of academy in Hillsboro. As a young man, he traveled with his brothers, helping with wheat harvest, corn shelling and hay baling. He spent 1944-46 working in Downey, Idaho, and Fort Collins, Colo., to fulfill his duty to his country through Civilian Public Service. He married Helen Elizabeth Reimer on Oct. 5, 1947, in Goessel, Kan.

His family was known to be the first in the neighborhood to try new technology and inventions. He was also a truck driver, hauling cattle to Kansas City. He spent most of his working years in maintenance, performing many duties. He was well known for his mechanical abilities, inventive mind and sense of humor. He had a story or joke to add humor to any situation.

At age 56, he and Helen moved to Portland, Ore., and participated in a voluntary service assignment. He spent two years working in low-income areas of Portland reparing [sic repairing] and remodeling houses and meeting other construction needs. They relocated to West Plains, Mo., in 1990 to be closer to his children. He took great joy and interest in the various projects of his children and grandchildren.

He was baptized at age 17 at Emmaus Mennonite Church in Elbing, Kan. He was a member of First Baptist Church of West Plains, Mo.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Dyck; three sons, Max Dyck of Kansas City, Mo., Jay Dyck and his wife, Naomi, of Willow Springs and Bruce Dyck and his wife, Mary, of West Plains; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Sandra Lee; three brothers, Al, Elmer and John Dyck; and a sister, Helen Dyck Wiens.

Funeral services were held in Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home in West Plains. Burial was in Howell Memorial Park Cemetery.