Ralph Hickey

Graveside services were held for Ralph Hickey on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche, SD, with Reverend Tim Smith officiating.

Kline Funeral Chapel of Belle Fourche, SD, was in charge of arrangements.

Ralph Edward Hickey was born June 19, 1944, in Winner, SD, to Vivian and Viola (Briggs) Hickey of Iona, SD. He was the last born in a family of four boys and a girl. He attended McKinley grade school near Iona, SD, and started at Gregory High School in fall of 1958, but decided on a different path. He helped different ranchers and loved to rodeo. His love of rodeo lasted into adulthood, riding bulls, saddle broncs, and wild horse races. He continued to watch rodeos on TV and would “score” each rider and give his advice from the ringside chair where he was sitting.

Ralph “roamed” the country in South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, and Arizona. He worked in an oil field as a chain hand, cut house logs in the timber, panned for gold, and spent 17 years as an owner/operator with Sylvia as an over-the-road truck driving team. He had met Sylvia Kidd in Gillette, WY, in 1980 along with her children Ron and Barb Kidd.

He helped raise her children and enjoyed the grandchildren. He enjoyed the many video calls from all of them wherever they were at the time. He contributed to and influenced their lives in many ways, and was proud of their accomplishments.

Ralph loved animals, especially his dogs. He had many over the years, and now they are all now with Ralph.

Ralph had been sick for several years, eventually being unable to walk but using a “scooter” to move around. He even managed to drive the scooter with one hand while pushing a mower and mowing the lawn with his other hand. He spent the last month in the hospital with heart problems and diabetes. He didn’t let his physical condition or circumstances prevent him from living life in the best way possible, and worked hard until the end.

He passed away July 1, 2022, in the hospital at Avondale, AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents, sons Roger and Kenny, brothers Kenneth (Evelyn), Claude (Ilene) and their son Marvin, and Vivian Scott as an infant.

He is survived by Sylvia of 42 years, his four children; Lenora, Tammy, Ralph, Jr. and Marlin; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; step-son Ron with Allie Davis and Kyle Kidd; step-daughter Barb (Kidd) Belyew with Josh, Corrynne, and Creighton; step-great-grandchild Makennah Davis; sister Evelyn Rezac, nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives and friends.