Ralph Everett Staman

Funeral services for Ralph Everett Staman, 73, of Crawford, are set for today, Feb. 24, 1993, at 2 p.m. at United Methodist Church in Crawford with Pastor Vonda Crowe and Pastor Brad Staman officiating. Burial will be in the Crawford Cemetery.

He died Saturday, Feb. 20, 1993, at his son's home in Harrison. A memorial has been established for Old West Trail Rodeo Association of Crawford or the donor's choice. Donations may be sent to Crawford State Bank.

He was born June 18, 1919, in Delmar, Iowa, in Clinton County, to Elvin Brady and Theckla Eugenia Wendel Staman. He was the second of eight children.

He spent the first five years of his life in Delmar. In 1925, the family moved to South Kenebeck, S.D., where he started school. The family moved to Plainview, Neb., for about a year.

In the fall of 1929, the Stamans moved to the Scotsbluff valley. While there, Ralph attended the Lake Alice School. The family then moved to the Owl Creek area south of Morrill, where Ralph attended the Owl Creek school from fourth through eighth grades. The family then moved back to Lake Alice.

Ralph started working at a very young age for different farmers and ranchers until 1939. He also worked in the Sandhills area for a year and the Sunrise Mine in Guernsey, Wyo., for about a year.

On April 13, 1942, Ralph enlisted in the Army. He was stationed in the Pacific Theater, primarily the Aleutians, Phillipines, Guam, Hawaii, Okinawa and Kwajalein Islands. He was assigned to the Sea Bees, where he operated a dozer, building landing strips. He was awarded several medals of valor during his service to his country.

After he returned home, he spent about a year in the Wind River area of Wyoming, moving to Sioux County in 1947.

During the early years of his life, he was active in rodeoing, competing in bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding. His last shot at rodeoing was at the Old Timers Rodeo at Hyannia, Neb., in 1975 and 1984.

He married Wanda Ida Mansfield on June 23, 1948, at Chadron, Neb. They began their life together on the Chris Clements homestead, which Ralph's parents had purchased in 1947.

In September 1949, the family moved to the Frank and Minna Olbricht homestead, which they continued to rent until purchasing it in the 1960's. Ralph and Wanda retired from full time ranching in 1985. At this time they sold their ranch to their youngest son Terry, and moved to four miles down the road to the ranch belonging to their eldest son, Elvin, where Wanda was raised. They lived there to the present time.

Their eldest son, Elvin David, was born June 26, 1949. a second son, Charlie B. (Chucky), was born Aug 3, 1951. their daughter, Pattie Lee, was born Jan. 7, 1953 and Terry Ray completed the family on May 12, 1958.

Tragedy struck the home on June 29, 1957, when Chucky drowned in a cistern cave-in.

Ralph and Wanda have been longtime members of the United Methodist Church in Crawford. The family was active in many church, school and 4-H activities.

Ralph was employed for seven years at Fort Robinson State Park, where he made many new friends and fans while driving the stagecoach there. He was extremely popular with the tourists and was the subject of many photographs, including a feature article in the National Geographic and state park calendar.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife Wanda, sons, Elvin and wife Colleen of Harrison and Terry and wife Jeannie of Crawford; a daughter, Pattie Grimm and husband Duane of Harrison; six grandsons and two granddaughters; his father, E.B. Staman; a sister, Darlene Hall and brothers, Dale, Donald and Max, all of Scottsbluff; an aunt, Thelma Meinke, of Maquoketa, Iowa; many cousins, nieces and nephews and friends too numerous to mention.

Preceding him in death were his son, Chucky, mother, Theckla Wendel Staman and three brothers, Ray, Harry and Merl.

He will (be) sadly missed by all who knew him.

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