Ralph C. Skovlund, age 71, died Saturday, February 21, 2004, at his home in Estelline, South Dakota. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, February 25, 2004, at Grace Lutheran Church in Bruce, South Dakota, with interment and military rites at St. Petri Lutheran Cemetery at Bruce. Visitations will be from 4-8 P.M. Tuesday at Eidsness Funeral Chapel in Volga. Ralph was born February 5, 1933, at Bruce, South Dakota, to Oscar and Mabel (Holter) Skovlund. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Petri Lutheran Church. He attend country school near Bruce. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 until 1955, and following his discharge from the service he was employed in trucking and farming. On November 22, 1969, he married Mary Gaukel, at Hayti, South Dakota. Ralph was employed at South Dakota State University for 27 years, retiring in 1995. Ralph was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Bruce and Montgomery-Anderson American Legion Post No. 184 of Estelline. He enjoyed gardening and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Ralphs pleasant disposition was familiar to his many friends and family. Survivors include his wife, Mary Skovlund, of Estelline; three children: LeeAnn (Gene) Anderson of Volga, Jason Skovlund of Brookings, and Bridgette Skovlund of Estelline; two step-sons: Tim Gaukel of Watertown, South Dakota, and Scott (Ingrid) Gaukel of San Diego, California; one grandchild; eight step-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; two sisters: Ellen Krogh of Brookings and Audrey (Merle) Ulvestad of Bruce; five brothers: Floyd (Louise) Skovlund of Brookings, Adolph (Marge) Skovlund of White, Alden (Carol) Skovlund of Bruce, Gerald Skovlund of Bruce, and Harold Skovlund of Brookings; and a sister-in-law, Donna Skovlund of Sinai. He was preceded in death by two step-sons, Steven and William Gaukel; three brothers, Olaf, Melvin, and Leon; three sisters, Olga Hartley, Evelyn Harpestad, and Esther Boettcher; and two infant sisters, Lucille and Audrey.