Ralph Ernest Van Dyke went home to his dear Savior and Lord on March 1, 2012. Ralph was born in the farm house in Nobleford, Alberta, Canada on February 26, 1924. He was the oldest of 4 children of Aarend and Helen Van Dyke. Ralph grew up on the Van Dyke homestead near Nobleford spending his childhood on the farm and early school years in Rose Butte School, a one room school house in the country. He graduated from Noble Central School in 1942. Ralph married Bertha Van Gaalen in 1948 in Sumas, Washington. They lived on and farmed the homestead with his Dad. A few years later brother Harry and wife Evelyn became part of the farming business. The first few winters Ralph and Bertha spent in Abbottsford, BC as the house in Nobleford was not suitable for the cold Alberta winters.
Traveling between the prairies and the coast, they became familiar with the Quincy area. In 1961, the family, along with the Ralph P. Kooy family moved to small farms northeast and east of Quincy respectively.
Ralph and Bertha were active and faithful members of the 1st Baptist Church of Quincy soon after settling in Quincy and later became members of the Gideons International. Ralph and Bertha enjoyed winters going south in the motor home in their semi-retirement. Bertha died in 1989 after several years of health problems.
August 1991, Ralph and Pauline Graz were married in Quincy, Washington. Ralph enjoyed working on the farm, many times helping on his son’s farms.
He loved gardening and working outdoors. He also had a wood shop which many intricate art pieces were made as gifts to friends and family. Ralph and Pauline continued to serve in the Gideons International as well as the Quincy Free Methodist Church. Ralph and Pauline enjoyed numerous trips and southern winter excursions in their retirement and did mission work in Mexico on one of those trips. Ralph suffered a serious stroke in 2003 which slowed him considerably. He regained a degree of mobility and freedom with the wonderful and extensive care of Pauline and later Sheri Massey, care giver and close friend.
Ralph is survived by his loving wife, Pauline, four sons, Murray (Carol), Darrell (Ann), Arvin and Dale (Bonnie) all of Quincy, three daughters, Noni (Thomas) Ramundo, Jackson, MI, Nancy (Glenn) Teal and Judy (Steve) Vreeman, Spokane, WA, brother Harry (Evelyn) Van Dyke, Lynden, WA, Sister Berdena (Wallace) Postman, Elmer, Ontario, brother Ernest (Rickie) Van Dyke, Nobleford, Alberta, 18 grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren.
Viewing will be on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at Scharbach's Columbia Funeral Chapel, Quincy from 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, March 9, 2012 at the Free Methodist Church, Quincy at 11:00 A.M.
Please leave a memory for the family or sign their online guest book at www.scharbachs.com
Scharbach's Columbia Funeral Chapel, Quincy, in handling the funeral arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ralph Ernest Van Dyke, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.