He was born in April 1897 as Roelf Scheeringa in the country village of Midwolde, located in the municipality Leek, in the southwestern part of the Dutch northeastern province Groningen, the sixth of ten children of the 41 years aged farmer Jakob Scheeringa and Grietje Heuker.

He had the following nine siblings Scheeringa:
* Hemke (Henry), born on 20 April 1887 in Sebaldeburen;
* Egbert (Edward), 9 June 1889, Sebaldeburen;
* Hotze, 30 November 1891, Sebaldeburen;
* Harm, 17 November 1893, Oldekerk;
* Martinus (Martin), 28 March 1896, Midwolde, municipality Leek;
* Margaretha (Margaret), 11 August 1898, Midwolde;
* Willem (William), 20 September 1901, Midwolde;
* Tonnis (Tony), 6 September 1903, Midwolde;
* Rensktje (Rena Kuiper[s]), 5 September 1905, Midwolde.

His father Jakob Scheeringa was in 1887, 1889 and 1891 a shopkeeper in his birthplace Sebaldeburen, in 1893 a laborer in Oldekerk, in 1896, 1897, 1898 and 1905 a farmer in Midwolde, in the southwestern part of province Groningen, municipality Leek, and in 1901 and 1903 a laborer in Midwolde.

On 9 May 1911 his brothers Hemke Scheeringa (24, farmer, departed from Aduard) and Egbert Scheeringa (21, farmer, departed from Oldekerk) arrived on the S.S. Noordam at the port of New York, Ellis Island. Their destination was Hammond, Lake County, in the utter northwestern part of Indiana, where their friend J. van Til is residing.

On 20 March 1912 his brother Hotse Scheeringa came to America by himself at the age of 20 years. Source: Sherry Scheeringa Kennedy, INGenWeb, Lake County, August 2015.

On 7 May 1912 Roelt (15), his father Jacob Scheeringa (56, farm laborer), his mother Grietje (48) and his siblings Harm (18), Martinus (16), Margaretha (13), Willem (10), Tonnis (8) and Renstja (6) arrived on the S.S. Noordam at the port of New York, Ellis Island. They all departed from Leek, located in the southwestern part of province Groningen, and their destination was Hammond, Lake County, Indiana, where his brother Hemke E. Scheeringa was residing.

Ralph Scheeringa married the two years younger Julia Porter, who was born in Illinois.

In 1920 Ralph Scheeringa (22 y, born in Holland, immigrated in 1912), his wife Julia (20, Illinois) and their son Jacob (0, Indiana) were living in North Township, Lake County, Indiana.

In 1930 Ralph Scheeringa (33, immigrated in 1912), his wife Julia (31), their children Jacob (10), Sylvia (8, Indiana), George (7, Indiana), Gertrude (6, Indiana), Marie (4, Indiana) and Laurence (2, Indiana) were living in Griffith, Lake County, Indiana.

In May 1940 Ralph Scheeringa (42, truck farmer), his wife Julia (40), their children Jacob R (20, truck farm laborer), Sylvia (18, truck farm helper), George (17, truck farm helper), Gertrude (16), Marie (13), Lawrence (12) and his father Jacob Scheeringa (84, Netherlands, widower) were living at their own farm, worth $3500, in still Griffith, Calumet Township, Lake County, Indiana. They lived in 1935 in the same house.

Ralph Scheeringa died in September 1978 at the age of 81 years in Griffith, Lake County, Indiana. His widow Julia died in September 1991 at the age of 92 years, probably in Lake County, Indiana too.