Ralph S. Fishell

Ralph S. Fishell, 90, of Braddyville, IA, passed away, Saturday, August 19, 2017 at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, MO.

Ralph S. Fishell was born August 7, 1927 near Braddyville, Iowa. His parents were Myrle and Sabitha (Long) Fishell. They preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by two brothers Paul and Wayne Fishell.

Ralph walked to Nixon country school, and completed only the eighth grade in order to help his father farm. Yet he knew so much about so many things and could work a math problem in his head faster than with a calculator. He could build or fix anything.

He served in the U. S. Army during the Korean War.

He married Patricia Ann Murphy in May of 1949. To this union two daughters were born: Terry Lea Crowley and Samantha Ruth Henness.

On January 13, 1968, he married Barbara J. Heikkinen/Skytta and gained two sons, Albert and Dennis Skytta and a daughter, Cathy (Skytta) Starkey.

Ralph worked many jobs throughout his lifetime; rodeoing, ranching, breaking horses, trucking, road and pipeline construction, and farming.

He kept the home place in pristine condition, mowing grass and weeds and trimming trees even when he didn’t feel good enough to do the work. Ralph retired from farming in 2013 but kept mowing his yard and road ditches until late July 2017 when dear neighbors Sandy & Dwight Phillips took over.

Ralph always had a horse or a mule on the place and for a few years enjoyed raising show quality longhorn cattle. He helped to start the Iowa Longhorn Association.

His survivors include Barbara of the home, sisters Clara Mae Rawlings of Lehi UT, and Phyllis (Sandy) Hellman of Palm Desert, CA, daughters Terry Crowley of Clarinda, IA, and Samantha (Alan) Henness of Schertz, TX, son Dennis (Carla) Skytta, and son-in-law Pete Starkey of Michigamme, MI, sisters-in-law Mary Lou Murphy of Braddyville, IA, Margaret Hird of Fort Collins, CO, Mildred Van Pelt of Scottsdale , AZ, and Betty Helzer of Fort Collins, CO, grandchildren Brian (Lawanna) Cox, Darrell Cox, Dr. Rachel M. Cox, and her fiancée Brian Spooner, and Rick Baxter. His great grandchildren Lily, Logan, Lola, Zoeey Elma Mae Cox. Nephews Bill and Ken Rawlings, Allan, Monte, and Aaron Fishell, Mike Dotson, Rick Hellman, Larry and Hap Murphy. Nieces include Connie Jefferson, Stacey Evans, and Melanie Blanchard and special family friend Dee (Dunn) Marriott. Ralph will also be missed by numerous step grandchildren, great nieces and nephews, and many dear cousins throughout 20 states.

A memorial service for Ralph Fishell will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 26 ^th , 2017, at the Bram-Danfelt Funeral Home, Maryville, MO.  Inurnment with military honors will be at a later date at Shearer Cemetery, Braddyville, IA.

The family will meet with friends starting at 10:00 AM, Saturday, August 26 ^th , 2017, at the funeral home.

Memorials can be made in Ralph's name to the St. Joseph's Indian School, PO Box 326, Chamberlain, SD, 57325.