Ralph C. Berens, 84, Hays, died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005, at St. John's of Victoria. He was born Feb. 14, 1920, in Walker to William and Amelia (VonFeldt) Berens.

He married Rosie Flax on Oct. 16, 1945, in Ellis. She died in 1971.

He was a farmer and dairyman. He was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church of Hays, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Knights of Columbus and the Fourth Degree Knights, all of Ellis.

Survivors include four sons, Robert Berens, Glenwood Springs. Colo., Ronald Berens and wife JoAnn, and Tom Berens and wife Brenda, all of Hays, and Bernie Berens and wife Carolyn, Salina; three daughters, Edna Richert and husband Verlin, Assaria, Margaret Boucher and husband Brian, Alma, and Amelia Werner and husband Ken, Hays; a sister, Caroline Schmidt, Salina; 13 grandchildren, Ann Gottschalk, Eric Berens, Preston Richert, Pamela Hamlin, Scott Berens, Kyle Berens, Grant Boucher, Chase Boucher, Chris Berens, Jamie Nickelson, Jason Werner, Jody Werner and Tiffany Werner; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Betty Berens, a sister, Sister Angela Berens, six brothers, Bill, Nate, Cyril, Alvin, Herman and Eugene, and two infant siblings.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Hays; burial with military honors by the VFW in St. Mary Cemetery, Ellis. There will be a parish vigil service at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 20th and Pine, followed by a Third and Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus rosary at 7 p.m. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 9 to 9:45 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to St. Mary Home and School in Ellis and St. Mary Cemetery Association in Ellis.

Hays Daily News, 1/5/2005