Beth Ralph

Beth Ralph, age 86, of Idaho Falls, died of natural causes, at East Idaho Regional Medical Center, Monday, June 11, 2007. Beth was born the seventh of eight children to W.F. and Sadie Lessey Parish in the family home near Rigby, July 31, 1920. Graduation from Rigby High School followed her elementary schooling in the Rigby school district. In 1940 she wed Bobbie Lounsbury and they lived in Ririe and the Idaho Falls area until moving to Billings, Montana, in 1957, where they resided for ten years before returning to Idaho Falls. They were the parents of two children, Kathy and Lynn. Bobbie died in 1969 leaving her a widow at 49. Beth enrolled in a Practical Nurse course and shortly after graduation gained employment at the Idaho Falls hospital. She received additional training and became a Respiratory Therapist retiring at age 72. Out of necessity, during much of her early married life, she sewed many of the family’s clothing. Her sewing talent blessed the lives of her grandchildren too, and augmented the family income as she sewed professionally while living in Montana. She held numerous church positions serving in the Primary, Junior Sunday School, and Young Women’s organizations in the LDS church. She loved singing and participated in numerous choirs, duets, trios, and quartettes. In 1971 she married Sidney Ralph and through his influence learned to enjoy snowmobiling and saw much of Idaho and neighboring states from the back seat of a motorcycle. She is survived by her husband, Sidney Ralph, of Idaho Falls; son, Lynn Lounsbury, of Sisters, Oregon; five step children, Vicki Dresbach of Provo, Utah; Robin Averill of Yakama, Washington; Bonnie Corbett of Millville, Utah; Graig Ralph of Idaho Falls, and Cindy Mitchell of Firth; seventeen grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and one sister, Ona Crystal of Idaho Falls. Her parents, daughter Kathy, first husband Bobbie Lounsbury, and six siblings preceded her in death. A graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, June 16, 2007 in the Rigby Pioneer Cemetery, following a 2:00 p.m., private family viewing at Eckersell Funeral Home in Rigby.