Ralph Junior Siple was born at home on March 30, 1923 to Ralph E Siple and Madge M Flock Siple. He joined brothers Virgil, John, and sister Wanda. Growing up Ralph went by Junior or "the Boy". He passed away on August 20, 2022 at the age of 99.
Ralph was quite the poet. He composed many cherished poems. He was quick witted and always enjoyed sharing a joke or a story. He loved to brighten someone's day.
Ralph grew up on a farm in New Plymouth Idaho. His father was the sexton of the cemetery so he spent many hours mowing and trimming and helping to care for the cemetery. Ralph use to skip school and sneak to the airport to take flying lessons. As a result, he received his commercial pilot's license at the age of 16. He had a love of flying that lasted his whole life. He got the pleasure of flying a plane at the age of 96. He enlisted in the original Army Air Corp which later became the US Air Force during WWII. Because he had a commercial pilots license at the time he was immediately assigned to be a flight instructor. He also had other flying assignments. He rebuilt a 1935 Cessna Stinson plane. Many will remember the plane sitting in the driveway of his home as he worked on it. He later flew RC planes.
He also enjoyed trains. He would spend his school lunch hour sitting outside the train depot and listen to them send train orders using morse code. He was fascinated and would practice morse code with his Father at the dinner table. It paid off, after the war he got a job as a railroad telegrapher.
Ralph married Ellen Woods and they had a son. They were later divorced. While working for the railroad Ralph met the love of his life, Wavie Roundy. He always referred to her as his "Angel". They were married 70 years and had five children.
After the railroad, he went to work as a security guard for the Department of Energy at the Idaho National Energy Laboratory. He later worked his way up to be the Manager of Safeguards and Security. At that time, he developed and patented a special radio system to track the movement of special nuclear material on semi trucks. It is still used by Dept of Energy couriers today. He also had a small TV repair business and for a short time sold pianos. He could fix just about anything. His kids would say "if dad can't fix it, forget it, it can't be fixed."
Ralph had a love of music. He and Wavie were known as the Swinging Sweethearts. Ralph played the 4 string banjo and Wavie played the piano. Their grandson Brent often played the drums with them. Over the years others would ask to join them. They played at a different Senior Care facility every Wednesday for over 25 years. He was an avid fisherman. It didn't matter the time of day or the weather conditions, he and his fishing buddies would take any opportunity to go.
Ralph was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He had a deep love of the Savior. He served in many callings. He and Wavie served a 2 1/2 year mission at the Idaho Falls Temple Visitors Center. They loved serving there.
After living in Idaho Falls for more than 61 years, they moved to Boise to be closer to family.
Ralph is preceded in death by his beloved wife Wavie, parents, brothers and sister. He is survived by his six children, B. Louis (Diane), Wally (Judy), Kelly (Margo), Debbie (Mark), Bud (Judee) Connie (Don); 18 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.
www.relyeafuneralchapel.com
Ralph was quite the poet. He composed many cherished poems. He was quick witted and always enjoyed sharing a joke or a story. He loved to brighten someone's day.
Ralph grew up on a farm in New Plymouth Idaho. His father was the sexton of the cemetery so he spent many hours mowing and trimming and helping to care for the cemetery. Ralph use to skip school and sneak to the airport to take flying lessons. As a result, he received his commercial pilot's license at the age of 16. He had a love of flying that lasted his whole life. He got the pleasure of flying a plane at the age of 96. He enlisted in the original Army Air Corp which later became the US Air Force during WWII. Because he had a commercial pilots license at the time he was immediately assigned to be a flight instructor. He also had other flying assignments. He rebuilt a 1935 Cessna Stinson plane. Many will remember the plane sitting in the driveway of his home as he worked on it. He later flew RC planes.
He also enjoyed trains. He would spend his school lunch hour sitting outside the train depot and listen to them send train orders using morse code. He was fascinated and would practice morse code with his Father at the dinner table. It paid off, after the war he got a job as a railroad telegrapher.
Ralph married Ellen Woods and they had a son. They were later divorced. While working for the railroad Ralph met the love of his life, Wavie Roundy. He always referred to her as his "Angel". They were married 70 years and had five children.
After the railroad, he went to work as a security guard for the Department of Energy at the Idaho National Energy Laboratory. He later worked his way up to be the Manager of Safeguards and Security. At that time, he developed and patented a special radio system to track the movement of special nuclear material on semi trucks. It is still used by Dept of Energy couriers today. He also had a small TV repair business and for a short time sold pianos. He could fix just about anything. His kids would say "if dad can't fix it, forget it, it can't be fixed."
Ralph had a love of music. He and Wavie were known as the Swinging Sweethearts. Ralph played the 4 string banjo and Wavie played the piano. Their grandson Brent often played the drums with them. Over the years others would ask to join them. They played at a different Senior Care facility every Wednesday for over 25 years. He was an avid fisherman. It didn't matter the time of day or the weather conditions, he and his fishing buddies would take any opportunity to go.
Ralph was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He had a deep love of the Savior. He served in many callings. He and Wavie served a 2 1/2 year mission at the Idaho Falls Temple Visitors Center. They loved serving there.
After living in Idaho Falls for more than 61 years, they moved to Boise to be closer to family.
Ralph is preceded in death by his beloved wife Wavie, parents, brothers and sister. He is survived by his six children, B. Louis (Diane), Wally (Judy), Kelly (Margo), Debbie (Mark), Bud (Judee) Connie (Don); 18 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.
www.relyeafuneralchapel.com
Ralph Junior Siple was born at home on March 30, 1923 to Ralph E Siple and Madge M Flock Siple. He joined brothers Virgil, John, and sister Wanda. Growing up Ralph went by Junior or "the Boy". He passed away on August 20, 2022 at the age of 99.
Ralph was quite the poet. He composed many cherished poems. He was quick witted and always enjoyed sharing a joke or a story. He loved to brighten someone's day.
Ralph grew up on a farm in New Plymouth Idaho. His father was the sexton of the cemetery so he spent many hours mowing and trimming and helping to care for the cemetery. Ralph use to skip school and sneak to the airport to take flying lessons. As a result, he received his commercial pilot's license at the age of 16. He had a love of flying that lasted his whole life. He got the pleasure of flying a plane at the age of 96. He enlisted in the original Army Air Corp which later became the US Air Force during WWII. Because he had a commercial pilots license at the time he was immediately assigned to be a flight instructor. He also had other flying assignments. He rebuilt a 1935 Cessna Stinson plane. Many will remember the plane sitting in the driveway of his home as he worked on it. He later flew RC planes.
He also enjoyed trains. He would spend his school lunch hour sitting outside the train depot and listen to them send train orders using morse code. He was fascinated and would practice morse code with his Father at the dinner table. It paid off, after the war he got a job as a railroad telegrapher.
Ralph married Ellen Woods and they had a son. They were later divorced. While working for the railroad Ralph met the love of his life, Wavie Roundy. He always referred to her as his "Angel". They were married 70 years and had five children.
After the railroad, he went to work as a security guard for the Department of Energy at the Idaho National Energy Laboratory. He later worked his way up to be the Manager of Safeguards and Security. At that time, he developed and patented a special radio system to track the movement of special nuclear material on semi trucks. It is still used by Dept of Energy couriers today. He also had a small TV repair business and for a short time sold pianos. He could fix just about anything. His kids would say "if dad can't fix it, forget it, it can't be fixed."
Ralph had a love of music. He and Wavie were known as the Swinging Sweethearts. Ralph played the 4 string banjo and Wavie played the piano. Their grandson Brent often played the drums with them. Over the years others would ask to join them. They played at a different Senior Care facility every Wednesday for over 25 years. He was an avid fisherman. It didn't matter the time of day or the weather conditions, he and his fishing buddies would take any opportunity to go.
Ralph was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He had a deep love of the Savior. He served in many callings. He and Wavie served a 2 1/2 year mission at the Idaho Falls Temple Visitors Center. They loved serving there.
After living in Idaho Falls for more than 61 years, they moved to Boise to be closer to family.
Ralph is preceded in death by his beloved wife Wavie, parents, brothers and sister. He is survived by his six children, B. Louis (Diane), Wally (Judy), Kelly (Margo), Debbie (Mark), Bud (Judee) Connie (Don); 18 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.
www.relyeafuneralchapel.com
Ralph was quite the poet. He composed many cherished poems. He was quick witted and always enjoyed sharing a joke or a story. He loved to brighten someone's day.
Ralph grew up on a farm in New Plymouth Idaho. His father was the sexton of the cemetery so he spent many hours mowing and trimming and helping to care for the cemetery. Ralph use to skip school and sneak to the airport to take flying lessons. As a result, he received his commercial pilot's license at the age of 16. He had a love of flying that lasted his whole life. He got the pleasure of flying a plane at the age of 96. He enlisted in the original Army Air Corp which later became the US Air Force during WWII. Because he had a commercial pilots license at the time he was immediately assigned to be a flight instructor. He also had other flying assignments. He rebuilt a 1935 Cessna Stinson plane. Many will remember the plane sitting in the driveway of his home as he worked on it. He later flew RC planes.
He also enjoyed trains. He would spend his school lunch hour sitting outside the train depot and listen to them send train orders using morse code. He was fascinated and would practice morse code with his Father at the dinner table. It paid off, after the war he got a job as a railroad telegrapher.
Ralph married Ellen Woods and they had a son. They were later divorced. While working for the railroad Ralph met the love of his life, Wavie Roundy. He always referred to her as his "Angel". They were married 70 years and had five children.
After the railroad, he went to work as a security guard for the Department of Energy at the Idaho National Energy Laboratory. He later worked his way up to be the Manager of Safeguards and Security. At that time, he developed and patented a special radio system to track the movement of special nuclear material on semi trucks. It is still used by Dept of Energy couriers today. He also had a small TV repair business and for a short time sold pianos. He could fix just about anything. His kids would say "if dad can't fix it, forget it, it can't be fixed."
Ralph had a love of music. He and Wavie were known as the Swinging Sweethearts. Ralph played the 4 string banjo and Wavie played the piano. Their grandson Brent often played the drums with them. Over the years others would ask to join them. They played at a different Senior Care facility every Wednesday for over 25 years. He was an avid fisherman. It didn't matter the time of day or the weather conditions, he and his fishing buddies would take any opportunity to go.
Ralph was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He had a deep love of the Savior. He served in many callings. He and Wavie served a 2 1/2 year mission at the Idaho Falls Temple Visitors Center. They loved serving there.
After living in Idaho Falls for more than 61 years, they moved to Boise to be closer to family.
Ralph is preceded in death by his beloved wife Wavie, parents, brothers and sister. He is survived by his six children, B. Louis (Diane), Wally (Judy), Kelly (Margo), Debbie (Mark), Bud (Judee) Connie (Don); 18 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.
www.relyeafuneralchapel.com
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