Ralph Roggow

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at Countryside Funeral Home in Howard, KS. Countryside Funeral Home of Howard, KS, was in charge of arrangements.

Ralph was born December 7, 1941, at Lucas, SD, at the home of his parents, Robert ‘Bob’ and Ferne (Rogers) Roggow. He was the middle of three children born to the family. He graduated from Burke High School in 1959. After graduating he worked for a Belle Fourche rancher during the summer bucking hay bales. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1959 and worked in electronics. He accepted a commissioning program that enabled him to attend college at the University of Oklahoma. Graduating in 1969 from OU with a BS in mathematics, he then proceeded to flight training and flew S-2 submarine hunter aircraft.

He married JoAnn Freeman Handte on May 1, 1970. From a previous marriage, he had a son, Robert. JoAnn also had a son from a previous marriage, Louis. From this marriage, they had two daughters, Jennifer and Lori. Ralph and JoAnn lived in various locations during his service and upon his retirement from the US Navy at the rank of lieutenant commander, and then settled on a dairy farm in Burke, SD. After farming for eight years, he then began an ag spraying service.

He relocated to Howard, KS, after retiring from farming and ag spraying when his wife accepted a job with the local medical clinic. He was a very active member of the American Legion Carter-Rader Post 0149 in Howard, and his last office was that of post chaplin. He was extremely proud of his youngest grandson, Jared, for graduating from US Navy boot camp and continuing the tradition of military service.

Ralph Robert Roggow, age 80, of Howard, KS, passed away September 17, 2022, at his home.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Ferne; wife, JoAnn, and son, Robert.

Ralph is survived by daughters, Jennifer Roggow and husband Brad of Sedan, KS, and Lori Wittmeier and husband Chad of Salem, SD; stepson, Louis Handte of Oklahoma; ten grandchildren and ten greatgrandchildren; sister, Violet Scheele and husband Harry of Eugene, OR; brother, Raymond Roggow and wife Linda of Elk Point, SD.

One of Ralph’s fondest memories of traveling was when he attended an Honor Flight to Washington DC. This trip was hosted by the Parsons High School Honor Flight; coordinated by Mike Kastle and Asst-coordinator Eric Swanson. The family wishes that all memorial contributions be made to the Parsons High School Honor Flight and can be mailed to or left at the Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, PO Box 1233, Howard, KS 67349.