Ralph L Burkey went home to Jesus at dawn on the 25 th of March at his home surrounded by family.
Ralph was born to Kenneth C and Lena Burkey on November 2, 1938 in Salem Iowa. He was raised on the family farm near Salem with his three siblings, Elaine, Gary and Darrell. He loved farm life, even hand milking the dairy cows with his dad where they solved the ills of the world.
Farm life was not to be Ralph’s calling and he went into the steel drafting trade before he started teaching in Tech schools in Iowa. In 1973 he accepted a teaching position in the drafting dept at Bosie State University where he worked until retirement in 2003. Ralph was born to be a teacher and all the students loved his open-door policy. He had a heart of grace and understanding. Ralph received his Masters degree in adult education from the University of Idaho.
1989 found Ralph back on the farm. He and his wife bought a small acreage just west of Star Idaho, with pastures for his beloved horses and a few beef cows. Ralph loved being outdoors, playing basketball (#88 at Salem High) baseball, fishing, hunting, camping, riding his horses and spending time with family and friends.
Ralph had a wonderfully wicked sense of humor, a teasing nature and that devious smile that made you realize you’d been had. Babies, toddlers, and older children all gravitated to Ralph’s loving nature. He was a standup man, a loving husband, father and grandfather and will always be in our hearts. We were blessed! He was respected by his peers and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need.
Ralph is survived by his wife Julie of 48 years, daughters Lori Cannon (Darin Lee), Amy Clawson (Mike), Tiffiny Burkey, son Chad Burkey (Chantil), sister Elaine Bunge, ten grandchildren, six great grandchildren, brother-in-law Dan Fine, Sister-in-law Pene Burkey and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Ralph was predeceased by daughter Casey Hanson, brothers Gary Burkey, Darrell Burkey and his Parents.
The Rose
Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your heart to bleed
Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless, aching need
I say love, it is a flower and you its only seed
It’s the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance
It’s the dream, afraid of waking that never takes a chance
When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong
Just remember, in the winter, far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed, that with the sun’s love, in the spring becomes
The Rose
Lyrics by Amanda McBloom