Ralph Matthew Schreurs

VIEW SERVICE FOLDER

Raphael (Ralph) Matthew Schreurs of Garretson, SD, a former manager of the Splitrock Telecom Cooperative, died Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls.

Mr. Schreurs was born Sept. 9, 1926 on a farm four miles west of Garretson. He attended grade school at Districts 34 and 101 west of Garretson and graduated from Garretson High School in 1944. He helped on the family farm until enlisting in the Army in September of 1946. He was a radio operator in the Signal Corp and was discharged in July of 1948. He married Wilma Tichota May 29, 1951 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Dell Rapids.

Mr. Schreurs graduated from SDSU with an Electrical Engineering Degree in 1955 and went to work for the Telephone Division of the Rural Electrification Administration in Washington, DC. He worked for one year in Washington DC and then transferred to Ohio as a field engineer. On August 1 ^st of 1957 he became manager of the Garretson Cooperative Telephone Association (name later changed to Splitrock Telecom Cooperative). He held this position until retiring on April 1 ^st , 1989. He also served as Manager of the South Dakota Telephone Cooperative Association for seventeen years in addition to his job at Splitrock Telecom. He was instrumental in forming the South Dakota Independent Telephone Coalition which represented all the Independent Telephone companies in the State and served as president for the first two years. He was very active in both the State and National telephone industry serving on many committees. Ralph was inducted into the South Dakota Cooperative Hall of fame on September 11, 2007.

Ralph was active in the local community serving as Mayor of Garretson for seven years. He was president of the Garretson Commercial Club, was on the original Board that developed the Palisade Manor, was a member of the St Rose Catholic Church, and maintained the Church cemetery for many years. He was a member of Henry G. Fix Post #23 and Past Commander. Ralph loved to play cards and golf and also went fishing for a pastime. He enjoyed dancing and traveling. He also enjoyed working with wood and made all kinds of furniture for his family, friends and several items for his church.

He is survived by his wife, Wilma; five children: Scott (Linda) Schreurs, Mansfield, MO, April (fiancé Tom) Schreurs, Fairview, TX, John (Leah) Schreurs, Mansfield, MO, Stuart (Karen) Schreurs, Milbank, and Thomas (Wanda) Schreurs, Mansfield, MO;  eleven grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; siblings: Dorothy Vandersnick, Albert Lee, MN, Mary Schreurs, Garretson, and Robert Schreurs, Slayton, MN; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Matthew and Frances Mary (Kuhl) Schreurs; and sister, Bernadine Carlson and Lorraine Bunkers.

Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 AM Friday, June 7, 2019, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Garretson. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Thursday, at the church, with a Christian Wake Service and Rosary beginning at 7:00 PM.

The Family requests no flowers and those expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to local community volunteer organizations. (The St Rose Church, The Garretson Community Swimming Pool, American Legion Post 23, The Garretson Senior Citizens, The Garretson Community Ambulance Service, Palisade Manor, Etc.)