BENJAMIN RALPH POSTON

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BENJAMIN RALPH POSTON Peacefully on April 9, 2012 at the Victoria General Hospital, Benjamin Ralph Poston passed away after a lengthy illness. He is survived by his wife Mae and her children, Beverley (Paul) Johnson, Carolyn Thorlacius, Wilfred Brandstrom, Neil (Anna) Brandstrom, 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by nieces Twila (Cal), Judy (Doug), Gaye (Marvin), Faye (Sam), Penny (Bill), and Wendy (Kim), and many other nieces, nephews and other relatives. Ralph was married to Ethel Ruth Morris for 49 years. She predeceased him in 1990. He was also predeceased by his parents Ben (1975) and Jennie (1985), brothers Lloyd in infancy and Claude (1985) and his wife Evelyn, sister Ruth Eileen Marshall and husband Ben, son-in-law Oli Thorlacius, and numerous other relatives. Benjamin Ralph Poston was born at Elkhorn, Manitoba, on November 27, 1917, and he was the eldest son of Ben and Jennie Poston. He lived on the family farm until April 1940 when he enlisted in the R.C.A.F. He was discharged September 30, 1945, as a navigator-bomber with the rank of Flying Officer. Following the war Ralph completed high school and attended the University of Manitoba, graduating in 1950 with a B.Sc. degree in Agriculture. Ralph worked for the Manitoba Department of Agriculture at Melita, Eriksdale, Whitemouth and Winnipeg until retiring to Elkhorn, Manitoba in 1982 with the exception of one year post-graduate studies at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado and 15 months on a Social and Economic Study of People of Indian Ancestry in Manitoba . The study resulted in a three volume report which he co-authored. Ralph was musically inclined and loved country and western music. He played a violin and guitar at country dances in his younger years and an alto horn in the Virden Citizens' Band 1936 to 1939. He sang on radio CJRC with Charlie Harold and the Round-up Rangers and the CBC's Red River Barn Dance from 1938 to 1942. He sang as Postie and was referred to as Manitoba's Wilf Carter. He also sang tenor in United Church choirs at Eriksdale, Whitemouth, Elkhorn and Oxford United Church in Winnipeg. Ralph married Mae Brandstrom in October, 1990 and was especially grateful for the way Mae and her family made his declining years so enjoyable. Ralph accepted his family role willingly and was very generous to all of us. Ralph and Mae lived in Eriksdale until 2001 when they moved to Amber Meadows and later Lindenwood Manor in Winnipeg. Recreation interests included bridge, bridge and more bridge, as well as attempting to solve crossword puzzles, jumbles and cryptograms. He was a Legion member for over 63 years. Ralph was one of the people that helped to start the Annual Lundar Bull Sale, a fixture on the local cattle scene for many years. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Elkhorn Cemetery, with Mrs. Irene Cousins officiating. Lunch and fellowship will follow. Ralph was a faithful donor to a number of charities throughout his life. If relatives and friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, they may choose to donate to a charity of their choice in his memory.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 14, 2012