Ralph Duane Homan

1928 - 2013

Ralph Duane Homan

Ralph Homan, 84, Mitchell, died Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

Funeral services will be 1:30 pm, Monday, May 13 at Bittner Funeral Chapel, 805 West Havens Avenue, Mitchell, SD 57301. Burial with military honors will be in the Mount Vernon Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 6:00-8:00 pm at Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Ralph Duane Homan was born November 30, 1928 on the family farm near Scotland, SD to Bruce and Edna (Davis) Homan. He attended rural Lakeview #8 grade school and graduated from Scotland High School in 1947. He served in the US Army in Korea, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. On January 9, 1952 he married Marilyn Christensen at Parker, SD. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary shortly before her death in May 2012. They farmed near Mount Vernon for 41 years and then owned and operated Mid Dakota Land and Auction Company in Mitchell for 20 years. Ralph sold Mid Dakota Land in 2009 but he never retired and was still working the month before his death. He was a devoted public servant. He was a member of the Mount Vernon American Legion for over 50 years and served as its Commander. He was a long-time member of the Mitchell VFW and the Mitchell Masonic Lodge. He served on the Davison County Selective Service Committee, the South Dakota Economic Development Finance Authority Board of Directors, and was on the state committee of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service of the USDA. He was a founding member of the Mitchell Horsemen's Sports, Inc. and the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo. He was inducted into the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2005. Ralph also served two terms (1983-1986) in the SD House of Representatives, and was actively involved in the Davison County Republican Party, serving for a time as its Chairman and was elected as a delegate to the State convention in 1986. He was on the Mount Vernon Public School Board and served for several years as its President. He served on the Avera Brady Health and Rehab Citizen Advisory Committee and the Mitchell Area Adjustment Training Center Advisory Board. Ralph was active in the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce and was also a volunteer for Dakotafest.

He is survived by two children, Bruce Homan (Judy), Gillette, WY and Barbara Collins (Joe), Pebble Beach, CA, three grandchildren, Michael Boisen MD (Michelle), Pittsburgh, PA, Patrick Homan (Brittney), Gillette, WY and Stephanie Homan, Fairbanks, AK and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Marilyn, his brother Russell, Ramona, CA and his two sisters, Virginia Knepp, Mifflin County, PA and Ruth Carter, Bremerton, WA.

Memorial donations may be made to the Mt. Vernon American Legion Post 22, 25337 395th Ave, Mt. Vernon, SD 57363, or Honor Flight Network (www.honorflight.org).