Ralph Rhees
September 27, 1937 — January 18, 2024
Ralph Rhees passed away January 18, 2024 at age 86 in his Citrus Heights home surrounded by family members. He was born in Ogden, Utah September 27, 1937, to Horace and Elizabeth Rhees, the youngest of seven children. Ralph grew up on his parents’ farm in Pleasant View where he learned many useful skills. He was a life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ.
Ralph attended Weber State College where he earned a two-year Certificate in Machine Shop Technology.
He served a two-year church mission among the people of the Navajo Nation in Arizona and New Mexico. He was able to speak the language and share stories and traditions for the rest of his life.
Ralph married Beverly Crook on December 16, 1960 in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple. They had seven children and adopted a son. As a family they lived in Utah, Idaho and California. Their most recent location was Woodland, CA. After 41 years of marriage Bev passed away in 2001.
Ralph married Karen Bell Evans in 2002 in the Oakland California Temple. Ralph and Karen have enjoyed 21 loving years together and their families have become one big family.
As a machinist, and later a manufacturing engineer, Ralph worked at several companies including Romney Engineering Co. in Salt Lake City, Thiokol Corp. in Brigham City, and his own machine shop, Rhees Machine and Manufacturing in Malad, Idaho. He retired from Aerojet Rocketdyne in 1993 where he worked as a machinist and then a manufacturing engineer on Delta rocket motors used by NASA. He worked for a few more years at Ames Co. in Woodland.
Ralph will be remembered most for his love, service to others, his mischievous streak, and being able to fix just about anything.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Karen; and his children, Jerald (Deanna), Dyan (Faustino-decd), Michael, Heidi (Steve), Eric (Dawanna), Chana (Ronald-decd), Hayden (Chelsea), Kristen (Joe), Ryan, Todd, Sheriane, and Travis. Ralph has 33 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly; son, Alan; and grandson, Scott; as well as many other family members.
A funeral will be held on January 27, 2024 at 10 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel at 8056 Oak Ave, Citrus Heights, CA 95610, with an opportunity to visit with the family afterwards.
A second service will be held Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s North Ogden Mortuary, 2140 N. Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Saturday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the mortuary.
Ralph will be interred at Ben Lomond Cemetery in North Ogden, Utah