Published in Orange County Register on December 8, 2012
Orange County CA


Lake, Ralph Elijah, went to be with his Lord and Savior on November 29,
2012 at Deseret Health and Rehabilitation Center in Yates Center, Kansas;
he was 90 years old.

Ralph was born in Owl Creek, Woodson County, Kansas on November 12, 1922;
the son of Elijah Lake and Cora (Bashford). Ralph spent his childhood
in Yates Center, attending Yates Center Schools and in time, graduating
from Yates Center High School.

After Ralph graduated he went on to the Army Air Corp, being stationed
in various places throughout his duty. In 1945 while Ralph was still
in the service he married his high school sweetheart Frances (Weide)
in Panama City, Florida. The couple stayed in Kansas and Ralph attended
the University Of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) and graduated in 1949
and the couple then moved to California where he taught middle school
in Manteca, California. In the summer of 1949 Ralph started his Master's
degree at the University of Pacific and completed it in 1951 at USC with a
Master's Degree in Biology. He then became a sales representative for the
pharmaceutical company American Cyanamid, Lederle Laboratories. Ralph
was assigned the Hawaiian Islands as his territory. He and Frances
moved there in 1955 with their first born Rick, the couple remained in
Hawaii for almost 10 years. While in the Islands the couple was blessed
with two sons: Martin and Doug. During their ten years he represented
the pharmaceutical company for all the Hawaiian Islands, all the while
learning to play the ukulele and the various customs and horticulture of
the islands. Soon he and Frances were ready for a change and decided to
return to the Mainland.  In the Mainland his territory consisted of the
Beach Cities of Orange County California. In Orange County the couple
served the Lord at Grand Avenue EUB Church and Calvary Church in Santa
Ana. The couple remained in California until 1996, when Frances passed
away. Ralph then decided to come back to Yates Center, Kansas and live
the remainder of his life in the town he called home.

Returning to Yates Center brought Ralph back to old acquaintances;
he and Harriet (Rehmer) began to court and were married in April 1998
at the New York Valley Church in Yates Center. Ralph and Harriet were
fortunate to find each other; the couple did everything together and
was very active in their community, singing at the Yates Center Senior
Center as part of the Belles and Beaus, visiting the elderly at the
local nursing homes as well as taking several trips to Branson, Missouri.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Frances (Weide); and
three older sisters. He is survived by his wife Harriet, of Yates Center,
Kansas; his sons, Eric (Rick) Lake and wife Lynn of Orange, California;
Martin Lake and wife Linda of Evergreen, Colorado; and Doug and wife Lori,
also of Orange, California; nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren
also by many other relatives and friends.

Services for Ralph will be Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 10:30 AM at
the New York Valley Church located in Yates Center; burial will follow
at Yates Center Cemetery. The family will meet with friends the evening
prior to the service, Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at Campbell Funeral Home,
Yates Center.  Memorials are suggested to Compassion International and
may be sent in care of Campbell Funeral Home P.O. Box 188 Yates Center,
KS 66783.