Ralph Groefsema

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Ralph Warren Groefsema, age 90, passed away on Aug. 29, 2016, at Cedar Crest Care Center in Mountain Home of natural causes. A memorial service will be held Oct. 20, 2016, at 10 a.m. at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, and graveside inurnment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery with military honors.

Ralph was born in Boise on April 9, 1926, to John Groefsema and Olive Jensen. He and his older brother, Harvey, were raised at Clover Hollow, the family farm seven miles south of Mountain Home.

About age 10, Ralph accompanied his mother on research trips around the county while she was writing her Idaho history book, Elmore County-It's Historical Gleanings. During part of his high school years, his Aunt Gertrude Groefsema was superintendent of the Mountain Home school system. Ralph graduated from Mountain Home High School in 1944.

After graduation, Ralph spent his military service in the Army Air Corps. After returning home, he met his soul mate, Dorothy Hendricks, and they were married on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 1949. From this union came Gary in 1950, Gail in 1953 and Jana in 1956.

In 1953 after the death of his father, he took over the family farm. His love of and interest in animals continued throughout his life. From Hereford cattle, he went to dairy cattle and built a small dairy parlor and sold raw milk in paper cartons under his special logo "Fresh from Moo to You." The milk was sold in stores and home delivery.

He won many ribbons with both Herefords and Brown Swiss, but health problems caused him to give up farm life for a while. He sold the farm and went into real estate, starting Elmore Realty, concentrating mostly on farms and ranches.

Ralph was a gifted dowser (water witcher) and found a number of good wells for clients and friends. In 1966, he bought an acreage just outside the city limits and started in the sheep business. He tried several meat breads of sheep, but his greatest success was in the wool breeds: Lincoln, Border Leicester and natural-colored sheep.

Fleeces from those sheep were sought after by many discriminating hand spinners. One of his most memorable wins was in 1993 at the Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, Ore., when he won the Traveling Trophy. This was for the Best Group of Five Fleeces for Hand Spinners. The event was one of the largest wool shows in the U.S. with more than 550 fleeces entered. In 2008 at the age of 82, Ralph dispersed his flock and moved into town.

Ralph was a member of the Christian and Baptist Church and held several offices in the church. On Easter for a number of years, he would take a baby lamb to church for the kids to pet during children's time. Ralph was a charter member of Mountain Home Elks Lodge 2276, and he was a member of American Legion Post 26 for 49 years.

In 2012, Ralph moved into an assisted living facility due to poor health. He lost his soul mate, Dorothy, in 2013 after 64 years of marriage.

Ralph is survived by son Gary (Robin) Groefsema, daughters Gail and Jana Groefsema, granddaughter Andee (Ray) Helms, great-grandsons William and Thomas Helms and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Dorothy, and his brother, Harvey Groefsema. He was the last of his generation.

The family wishes to thank Cedar Crest, Treasurer Valley Hospice, and Bobbie Thomas for his care in the final days.