SIOUX FALLS - Ralph Duane Pedersen, 76, Sioux Falls and formerly of Rapid City, passed from this life Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Sioux Falls.

Visitation will be Sunday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel and will resume one hour prior to the services at the funeral chapel on Monday. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 31, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel with Rev. Bill Paepke officiating. Burial with military honors provided by the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guard will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.

Ralph was born May 13, 1931, in Perkins County, SD, to Agnes (Cummings) and Harry Pedersen. He received his high school diploma in 1949 from Hettinger High School, Hettinger, ND. Ralph entered the U.S. Army in August of 1951, serving as a paratrooper during the Korean Conflict, and was honorably discharged in August 1959. Following his military service, he attended the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

On May 29, 1960, he married Louise Waack at Kadoka, SD. To this union, two children were born, Brenda and Lyla. The family made their home in Rapid City. Ralph worked as a postal carrier in Rapid City until his retirement in 1996. He also served as the financial manager for Louise's beauty salons, Louise's Hairstyling and Styles Unlimited. Ralph loved the game of baseball and played in and sponsored many softball teams in Rapid City (Grand River Hunters) over the years. Ralph suffered a stroke in March 2000.

He is survived by his daughters, Lyla Pedersen (Harley Kjergard), Brandon, SD, and Brenda (Todd) Fink, Sturgis and Prairie City, SD; four grandchildren, Jason Fink (Erin Christy), Minneapolis, Julie (Tom) Ewalt, Sturgis, Andy Pedersen, Brandon, SD, and Kristen Fink, Sturgis; three sisters, Delores Behler and Faye Wauhob, both of Idaho Falls, ID, and Ardis Lepinski, Hettinger, ND; four brothers, Marvin Pedersen, Texas, Stanley Pedersen, Phoenix, AZ, Richard Pedersen, Lake Worth, FL, and Dan Pedersen, Idaho Falls, ID; and several nieces and nephews. His wife of 18 years, Louise Thorsgard of Hettinger, ND, also mourns his death.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Delwin, Larry, and Owen Pedersen.