March 25, 1936 – February 24, 2025
Ralph Andrew Vrooman, 88, of Redfield passed away at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls on February 24, 2025, with his family at his side.
His memorial service was held on Monday, March 3, at Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield. Inurnment will take place at Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield at a later date.
Ralph was born on March 25, 1936 in Eagle Butte to Roy and Etta (Lindsay) Vrooman, one of 11 children, and the last to survive.
Ralph grew up in the Eagle Butte area and graduated from high school there. An exceptional athlete and allstate football player, he was offered a scholarship to play football for Northern State College in Aberdeen but a bout with yellow jaundice canceled that opportunity. Ralph joined the Army and did his service with honor. He returned home, where he married Rose Ella Wall on June 1, 1954. The family raised livestock and farmed south of Eagle Butte and milked dairy cows for a time.
Ralph coached junior high football, basketball, and track for many years at Eagle Butte. He also mentored many young kids with potential whom he welcomed as part of the family (Charles and Jerry Peacock, Terry Dupris, Harley Morgan, Carl Cook, and Rob Mendoza), along with Willie Circle Eagle, Earl Roberts, Cyril Cook, and Marty Ward.
When retirement came along, Ralph sold the family place and had his first auction, with six more to follow in the coming years. He could never pass up an auction and he and Rose Ella were usually on the road to one almost every weekend.
Ralph and Rose Ella moved several times, finally landing in Redfield, a central location to his children. He enjoyed visiting, meeting people, watching old westerns, SDSU basketball, FOX News, talking politics (but never with his sons) and watching the Twins.
Ralph was inducted into both the basketball and softball halls of fame and was the commissioner for the SD Men’s Amateur Basketball Association and the SD Men’s Amateur Softball Association.
Ralph’s true passion was softball. He started his own team, “Lefty’s,” in 1974. They captured many championships, while making lifelong friends and memories.
Ralph was steadfast and unchanging in his ways (every dog he ever owned was named Sam). He had a humorous side and loved to regale with stories of past happenings and pursuits.
Ralph enjoyed livestock, especially sheep and cattle, and big red barns he’d pass along the way.
Left behind are his wife Rose Ella of Redfield; children Robin (Gayle) of Miller, Richie (Donna) of Redfield, and Linda Fossum of Fulda, MN; many grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, son Ralphie, and great-grandson Trey Hofer.