Obituary of Ralph R. Breeding

Ralph Raymond Breeding, Jr. was born August 26, 1927 in Rothiemay, MT to Ralph and Tekla (Kananen) Breeding, Sr.  Ralph was most commonly known to all by his nickname of “Buncie”, which was given to him at birth by his grandmother.  In the Finnish language this means “A Little Bundle of Joy”.     

After high school, Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Navy in August 1944 at 17 years of age, with his mother’s permission, and served during WW II, until he was honorably discharged in October 1947.  Most of the conflicts he was involved with were in the Pacific Theater, beginning with Guam.  Ralph was awarded the Purple Heart Medal during his service in the U.S. Navy.

Ralph married Francis Huckstable in November 1946, and to this union two children were born, Raymond and Diane.  Diane passed away in 2000 due to an aneurism in the stomach.  Ralph’s second wife was Syble King, who also brought three daughters to the family that Ralph adopted, Patsy, Margie, and Judy.  Ralph married Thelma Kesler in July 1963, and to this union two sons were born, Mark and KC.  Thelma also brought six children to the family that Ralph adopted, whose names are: Jean, Raymond, Dwayne, Anthony, Sondra, and Ronnie Kesler.  On September 03, 1987, Ralph married Ruth Low in Reno, NV.  Together they enjoyed 30 years of marriage until Ralph’s passing on December 1, 2017. 

Ralph was a truck driver for almost 60 years and enjoyed every minute of it, often reliving those days through his stories. Ralph entered the Menno-Olivet Care Center in March 2009, and continued as a resident there until the time of his passing.  Ralph and Ruth are always grateful for the care and compassion they receive by the staff and volunteers of the Menno-Olivet Care Center.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Diane Breeding; by his first three wives, Francis, Syble, and Thelma; by his brothers, Leroy and Clement “Pat” and by his siste,r MaBelle “Sis”. 

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife ,Ruth Breeding; his sons, Raymond, Mark and KC; his brother, Bernard; his adopted children:  Patsy, Margie, Judy, Jean, Raymond, Dwayne, Anthony, Sondra, and Ronni; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.