Ralph Wilmar Van Maanen was born December 13, 1930, at Volga, South Dakota, to Guy and Frances (Breeschoten) Van Maanen. He died Saturday, March 29, 2003, at the Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ralph grew up on the family farm and attended schools at Volga. He served in the U.S. Navy from January 6, 1951, until November 16, 1954, during the Korean War. On November 26, 1954, he married Verna Mae Schermer at Maple Lake, Minnesota. Ralph farmed from 1957 until 1970 and then hauled milk for a year for the Farmers Co-op Creamery. He worked for the SDSU farm department from 1971 until 1974 and trucked for Swenning Trucking until 1975. He purchased Swenning Trucking in 1975 and operated it until 1982. During that time he received Farm to Market Safe Livestock Delivery Record two years in a row. He worked for the Farmers Co-op from 1982 until 1984 and began his employment with Daktronics where he was named the employee of the month in December 1988. He retired in March 1996. Ralph was a substitute school bus driver for the Sioux Valley schools for many years, and he was an avid high school sports fan. He was a member of First Reformed Church in Volga, where he served as a deacon and the church custodian. He was a member of Burrows-Young American Legion Post No. 114 , and served as the Brookings County American Legion Commander. Survivors include his wife, Verna Mae Van Maanen, of Volga; two sons: Gregory and Dorothy Van Maanen, of Brookings, and their son Curtis and his wife Ashley; and Timothy and Linda Van Maanen of Volga, and their daughters Sarah and Jodi; two brothers: Arnold (Dena) Van Maanen of Arlington, South Dakota, and Henry (Marlene) Van Maanen of Volga; a sister-in-law, Doris Van Maanen, of Volga; a brother-in-law, Don (Geraline) Schut, of Maple Lake, Minnesota; and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant grandson, Tyler; a sister, Gertrude Schut; and a brother, Edward.