Ralph Eugene Cure

1941 - 2026

Ralph Eugene Cure

February 11, 1941 - February 5, 2026

Ralph E. Cure, 84, of Grand Island, passed away on February 5, 2026, just six days shy of his 85th birthday at Country House Memory Care in Grand Island, surrounded by his loving family.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at All Faiths Funeral Home, Dan Naranjo will officiate. Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. All Faiths Funeral Home is entrusted with serving the family. Online condolences may be left at giallfaiths.com.

Ralph was born on February 11, 1941, the 13TH child of Guy Homer Cure and Fannie Bell (Patch) Cure in Akron, Colorado.

He was united in marriage to Linda L. Nielsen on August 13, 1960, in Custer County, Nebraska. They were married 65 years. This union was blessed with daughters, Sandra Kay and Sheri Lynn, and sons, Jerry Dean and Justin Eugene. They eventually settled in Grand Island, where they raised their children.

At the age of 16, Ralph left Akron, Colorado and went to Brownwood, Texas to drive truck for his brother-in-law, Doyle Senkirik (Phyllis).

He then moved to Ansley, Nebraska to work for the telephone company with his brother, Bill. One evening while dragging main street Ansley with one of his buddies, Don Kelly, a couple of pretty girls caught their eye.

This is when Ralph met Linda and a romance ensued. Linda was still a student at Ansley High at the time. Ralph went back to Texas to haul a few more loads for Doyle. While he was away, he sent many love letters back to Nebraska. As the story goes, he was homesick for Linda, he came back and proposed.

In their early years of marriage, Ralph worked for several local farmers in the Ansley/Broken Bow area before getting on with Missouri Valley. He famously helped to build Interstate 80 between Grand Island and Lexington.

He left Missouri Valley when Sandy was born and they went back to Broken Bow where he drove truck for Romans. They moved to Grand Island when he got a job as Head Cowboy at Harrington Feedlot. He rode pens for them for over 14 years until the Feedlot closed. He then bought his own truck and hauled all types of loads, Hay, Mesquite posts from TX, popcorn, seed corn, oil, Anhydrous, jet fuel.

Later in life he bought a grain trailer and hauled for local farmers.

He retired but then came out of retirement to drive truck with Jerry at Island Land Handlers until his early 70's. After which he helped a few local farmers at harvest time for a few years.

He enjoyed horses, cattle, dogs, hunting, traveling, horse races and Council Bluffs. Camping, fishing, and playing cards were other favorite pastimes he shared with family and friends such as, Gene and Janice Simmons and bob and Pat Moss.

Ralph competed in Rodeos in calf roping and team roping.

While at Harrington's Ralph raised a beautiful Palomino Stud by the name of Jessie's Return by Jessie James Leo. Many wonderful Cutting Horses were sired by Jessie.

His kids were very involved with horses, showing in 4-H, Standard Quarter Horse shows and American Quarter Horse shows.

Ralph and Jerry had a cow/calf operation north of Grand Island for many years.

Ralph and Linda were able to do a lot of traveling. They went on an Amtrak trip with Linda's brother, Kenny and his wife, Olive….Much fun was had. They also went to Alaska.

Hunting was one of Ralph's passions and he got to deer hunt with friends and his sons and grandsons.

They raised Boston Terriers for a while; a favorite of the family was, Joe and of course Joe's girlfriend (Taffy).

Those left to cherish his memory, his wife, Linda; his daughters, Sandy (Mike) Whitehead of Lennox, SD and Sheri Cure (significant other, Steve Hoffmeiste); and his sons, Jerry Cure, and Justin (Shentell) Cure, all of Grand Island, NE.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Heath Petzoldt, Heather (Clint) Brahmsteadt, Hilary (Taylor) Miller, Holly (Seth) Boshart, Kurt Payne, Kyle Payne, Cody Cure, Tyler Salter, Jovi Cure, Turner Happold, Rya Happold, Myra Whitehead, and Katelynd (Joe) Hendrickson; and his great-grandchildren; Wilder, Axen, Addison, Wyatt, Dillon, Easton, Taycee, Stevi, Reese, Rowyn, Jace, and Jett.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Fannie and siblings, Floyd, Fern, Clarence (Jerry), George, Lula May, Virgil, Julia, Beulah, Winston (Dean), Mildred, William (Bill), and Phyllis.