Ralph Alma Lund, 95, of Ephraim passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 3, 2021 at his home surrounded by his family, only 200 feet from the place he was born.
Ralph was born May 15, 1926 to Alma and Marie Lund. He was a life-long resident with roots going back to the founding of Ephraim. He made his living in agriculture raising cattle and sheep. He loved to be in the mountains herding sheep, working on the farm and making things grow. He married June Everitt on June 12, 1948 in Salt Lake City. Their marriage was solemnized in the Manti Temple on February 26, 1981. Ralph and June were blessed with four boys and one girl.
Ralph served in the US Army during WWII in the Philippines and New Guinea, shipping war supplies back to the US from 1945 – 1946. He returned from the Army and took up farming with his father. After Ralph’s father was killed in a farm accident, he took over the business.
Besides agriculture, Ralph was very involved in serving his community. He served on the Ephraim City Council, on the board of directors for the Ephraim Irrigation Company, was a member of the West Point Irrigation Company, and was a Deputy County Assessor for Sanpete.
Ralph was a student of world affairs; one of his loves was reading. Ralph was well informed in many areas of civic, local, and national problems. He loved Civil War and WWII history. In fact, he once read an entire multi-volume encyclopedia—he had a thirst for knowledge.
Due to Ralph’s service in WWII, he did not receive his high school diploma. In 2004 he received an honorary diploma and graduated with his grandson.
After selling the farm to his two boys, he continued to work the 40 acres east of town. It was a common sight to see Ralph building fences and irrigating the land with his shovel well into his 90’s.
He is survived by his five children, Alma (Koy) Lund, Tom (Leslie) Lund, Terry (Wendy) Lund, Karl (Julie) Lund and Molly (John) Kohler; 26 grandchildren; 49 ½ great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
Ralph is preceded in death by his wife, June Everitt Lund; parents, Alma and Marie Lund; and sisters, Erma Frandsen, Hazel White and Lawayne Granlund.
Funeral services will be held Monday, October 11, 2021 at 12 Noon in the Ephraim Stake Center, 400 East Center Street. There will be a viewing held on Sunday evening from 6:00 – 7:00 pm and Monday morning from 10 – 11:30 am. Burial will be in the Ephraim Park Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion Post #31 and Utah Honor Guard. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com.
