Ralph Dennis Hall

Ralph D. Hall, age 95, of rural Atwater, passed away on Sunday, August 3, at Cura of Willmar.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 8, at Rosendale United Methodist Church. Interment will be at Union Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, at Rosendale United Methodist Church and will continue for one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Atwater Threshers Association, Atwater Area Help for Seniors or the Rosendale United Methodist Church are preferred. Arrangements are entrusted to the Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home. www.petersonbrothers.com

Ralph Dennis Hall was born on June 2, 1930, on the family farm south of Atwater, the son of Carl and Astrid (Peterson) Hall. He grew up in the rural Atwater community, was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church and graduated from Atwater High School in 1949. At a young age, his father passed away and Ralph took over the family farming operation.

On December 1, 1962, Ralph was united in marriage to Caroline Fore. They lived and farmed on the family farmstead near Lake Elizabeth. Ralph retired from farming at the age of 63 and then began restoring the antique tractors he had been collecting (which became a full-time occupation). In his younger years, Ralph enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping. He and Caroline enjoyed traveling to all 50 states and many places throughout Canada, England, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Ralph was a founding member of the Atwater Threshers Association and member of the Rosendale United Methodist Church (since 1969) and the Atwater Lions Club.

He is survived by his loving wife of over 62 years, Caroline; three children, Daryl (and Carrie) Hall of Gassville, AR., Karen (and Raul) Guzman of San Antonio, TX., and Susan Morrissey of Atwater; four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, besides other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two siblings, Cecil Hall and Carol Nelson.