Major Ralf Thomas Wilson

Major Ralf Thomas Wilson USAF Ret., age 91, returned to the arms of his Heavenly Father on March 23, 2009, from his home in Rigby and was reunited with his parents and other waiting family members. Ralf was born in Alta, WY on July 28, 1917, the eldest child of Thomas Ross and Alice Cloe Larsen Wilson. He graduated from Teton High School and later attended the University of Idaho and LDS Business College. Prior to the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was assigned to Clark Air Base, Mindanao Island, the Philippines. When General MacArthur surrendered the Philippines in 1942, Ralf’s unit was taken into custody by the Japanese. They were interned on Mindanao until June, 1944. They were then shipped to Japan as the war turned against the Japanese where they were held prisoner until August, 1945 when the war ended. He met 2nd Lt. Janet Ross at Madigan General Hospital, Ft. Lewis, WA during his medical evaluation post-release. They were married on January 19, 1946, in Seattle, WA and later sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. He was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; he served in a branch presidency and, for many years, as senior president of stake Seventy’s quorums in Washington and Idaho, and, later, High Priest Group leader in the Rigby 4th Ward. He and his wife Janet served an LDS mission and were ordinance workers in the Idaho Falls Temple for 13½ years. Ralf loved the Scouting program earning the rank of Eagle Scout in 1935. He served as scoutmaster for many years. He retired in 1961 from the United States Air Force to Redmond, WA. Ralf and Janet completed their return to Teton Valley in 1976 where they lived until moving to Rigby in 1993. Ralf brought with him his “in-house” Burl-Wood Crafts business, which he had founded with his late brother Mark. He continued to make beautiful wood creations until shortly before his death. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, three sons: Dr. Thomas R. (Diane) Wilson of Rigby, ID; John L. Wilson of Alta, WY; and Lt. Col. Steven C. (Gloria) Wilson USAF Reserve of Del Rio, TX; 5 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and other beloved family members. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Mark and Clyde, and sister Suzanne. A viewing will be at Eckersell Funeral Home in Rigby on Friday, March 27 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 28 at the Rigby 1st, 4th, and 14th Ward Chapel, with family and friends visiting for an hour prior to the services. Weather permitting there will be a military flyover courtesy of the United States Air Force following the services. Interment will be approximately 3:30 p.m. in the Pratt Cemetery, Alta, WY, with military rites performed by Hill Air Force Base. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to the Perpetual Education Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. See “Donate Online” at www.ldsphilanthropies.org. The family also extends a special appreciation to the staff of Hospice Alliance for their loving care and assistance over the past five months.