Ralph Brunsvold, age 75, of Joice, Iowa, died Friday, Sept. 15, 2006, at his home. Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N.

Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City, Iowa, with the Rev. Jim Magelssen officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 18, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City. Memorials may be given to KCMR Christian Radio, Mason City.

Ralph was born in Albert Lea, the son of Theodore and Christine (Nelson) Brunsvold, on Sept. 22, 1930. He was baptized and confirmed at Concordia Lutheran Church, rural Joice. He attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Hanlontown High School in 1948.

Ralph married Dolores Payne, his high school sweetheart, on Feb. 27, 1949, and they lived and farmed in the Joice area his entire life. In their early years of farming they had dairy cattle, chickens and beef, and for a time he worked at the American Crystal Sugar Beet plant during the winter months, but he was especially known for his high quality farrow-to-finish hog operation that he maintained for over 40 years. Although he &8220;retired&8221; from farming in 1997, he continued to assist his son-in-law Paul with fieldwork each year and he remained an active caretaker of their home place until his death. He was also one of the first farmers in Worth County to install terraces to control soil erosion, for which he was given a soil conservation award. He truly was a steward of the land.

Ralph and Dolores enjoyed traveling, and made numerous trips to Texas, Maryland, California, Montana and Missouri for family visits and in recent years they spent the winters in Mission, Texas. He enjoyed playing 500 with family and friends, putting together jigsaw puzzles and listening to gospel music, especially the Gaithers and the Cathedrals.

But above everything else, Ralph just enjoyed being with his family and grandchildren.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife Dolores of Joice, a son David and his wife Sara of Northwood and a daughter Diane Anderson and her husband Paul, also of Joice. His grandchildren are Trisha and Matt Shields of Belton, Mo., Amy Brunsvold of Bozeman, Mont., Nathan and Marisa Anderson of Clarksville and Matt and Gina Brunsvold of Phoenix, Ariz. Great-grandchildren are Madison Shields and Devin Anderson. He is also survived by his sister, Beverly Witter of Leesburg, Fla.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents and an infant grandchild, Emily Brunsvold.

Major Erickson and Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements, (641) 423-0924, www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.