Ralph Andrew Vrooman, 88, of Redfield, SD, passed away on his own terms, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, on February 24, 2025, with his family at his side.
His memorial service will be at 2:00 PM on Monday, March 3, at Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield. Reverend Lorah Houser Jankord will officiate. Inurnment will take place at Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield at a later date.
The service will be live-streamed on the funeral home’s website below Ralph’s obituary. Hyke Funeral Home (www.hykefuneralhome.com) has been entrusted with arrangements.
Ralph was born on March 25, 1936, in Eagle Butte, SD, to Roy and Etta (Lindsay) Vrooman, the second to the youngest of 11 children, and the last to survive.
Ralph grew up in the Eagle Butte area and graduated high school there. An exceptional athlete, and All-State football player, he was offered a scholarship to play football for Northern College in Aberdeen, SD, but a bout with yellow jaundice canceled that opportunity. Ralph then joined the Army and did his service with honor. He returned home where he married Rose Ella Wall on June 01, 1954. In 1956, Robin came along followed by Richie in 1957, Linda in 1959, and Ralphie in 1960. The family worked hard raising livestock and farming south of Eagle Butte and milked dairy cows for a time.
Always an avid sportsman and interested parent, Ralph coached junior high football, basketball, and track for many years at Eagle Butte. He also mentored many young kids with potential who he welcomed into his home as part of the family (Charles and Jerry Peacock, Terry Dupris, Harley Morgan, Carl Cook, and Rob Mendoza), along with Willie Circle Eagle, Earl Roberts, Cyril Cook, and Marty Ward.
When retirement came along, Ralph sold the family place and had his first auction, with 6 more to follow in the coming years. He could never pass up an auction and he and Rose Ella were usually on the road to one almost every weekend.
Ralph and Rose Ella moved several times, finally landing in Redfield, a central location to his children. He enjoyed visiting, meeting people, watching old westerns, SDSU basketball, FOX News, talking politics, but never with his sons, and watching the Twins.
Ralph was inducted into both the basketball and softball halls of fame and was the commissioner for the SD Men’s Amateur Basketball Association and the SD Men’s Amateur Softball Association.
Ralph’s true passion was softball. He started his own team “Lefty’s” in 1974, a team to be reckoned with, they usually trounced the competition capturing many championships, while making lifelong friends and memories in their wake.
Ralph was steadfast and unchanging in his ways (every dog he ever owned was named Sam). He had a humorous side and loved to regale with stories of past happenings and pursuits.
Ralph enjoyed livestock, especially sheep and cattle, and big red barns he’d pass along the way.
Ralph has now made his way to that lush softball field in the sky where there are no bad calls, each hit is a home run, and rain never interferes. Left behind but with fond memories, are his wife Rose Ella of Redfield, and children: Robin (Gayle) of Miller, Richie (Donna) of Redfield, and Linda Fossum of Fulda, MN. He also leaves behind many grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, son Ralphie, and great-grandson Trey Hofer.
The family would like to thank the “girls” for the meals they shared at the Heartland apartments and Ross Woodward for his assistance and friendship.