Ralph A. Breitbarth

Ralph Albert Breitbarth, 96, of West Point, Nebraska, formerly of Fremont and Pender, Nebraska, passed away on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at the West Point Living Center. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 27, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Pender, Nebraska with the Rev. Richard Pingel officiating. A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Munderloh Funeral Home in Pender with the family present from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Interment will be in the St. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery in Pender. Ralph was born on April 1, 1915 in Cuming County Nebraska to Edward and Hulda (Longe) Breitbarth. He was baptized in May of 1915 by Pastor Eckhart and was confirmed in June of 1928 by Rev. Robert E. Kruse at St. John's Lutheran Church rural Pender. He attended rural school at District 61. Ralph worked on the family farm and at the age of 16 he worked as a hired hand for various farmers. On January 25, 1938 he married Mylet Burmester at St. Mark's Lutheran church in Pender, NE. They lived on a farm west of Pender for 11 years, and in 1952 they moved to a farm southwest of Pender. One son, Brian, was born to this union. Mylet passed away on June 16, 1975. Ralph was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church. He served as an usher, was on the finance committee and also served on the School Board at District 61. Ralph farmed all his life. He enjoyed gardening too. He enjoyed ballroom dancing and also belonged to a square dance club. On March 30th, 1979 he married Arlie Pinkley of Fremont at the First Lutheran Church in Fremont, NE. In 1989 Ralph retired from farming and in 1990 they moved to Fremont, NE. In 2005 they moved to Shalimar Gardens assisted living center. Ralph is survived by his wife Arlie of Fremont, NE, a son Brian and his wife Donna of Fargo, ND, grandchildren Stephanie Beyer and her husband Chuck and children Brook and Benjamin of St. Michael MN, Melanie Starin and her husband Jeremy and their daughter Kallie of Big Lake, MN, Brian Michael Breitbarth and his wife Brianna and their children Kenzie and Ashton of Fargo, ND. He is also survived by stepchildren Karen Hoier and her husband Lanny of Des Moines, IA, Don Pinkley of Lincoln, NE, and Jolene Weiser of Omaha, NE, seven step granddaughters and ten step grandsons, brothers Harry, Arthur and his wife Oma, and sister Edna Bettenhausen all of West Point, NE, as well as several nieces and nephews. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mylet, three brothers, Leroy, Emery and Myron, brothers-in-law Wilmer Bettenhausen, Merle Burmester, Joe Welsh, sisters-in-law Elaine Breitbarth, Phylis Breitbarth, Myrtle Welsh and Betty Burmester, and one stepson, Lyle Pinkley.