Ralph Lett

Funeral Services: Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield with burial at the Greenfield Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the Orient United Methodist Church following services at the cemetery. 

Visitation: Will be held on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield.

Memorials: To the Orient United Methodist Church or the Care Initiatives Hospice in Greenfield.

Ralph James Lett was born March 6, 1920 to Arthur and Grace (Hawkins) Lett in Anita, Iowa. He passed away March 10, 2012 at Crest Haven Care Centre in Creston, Iowa at the age of 92.

Ralph went to schools in Cass County and graduated from Anita High School in 1940. On November 2, 1940 he was united in marriage to Doris D. Watkins in Atlantic, Iowa. To this union three children were born: Leonard, Linda and Carolyn.

Ralph and Doris moved to the farm southwest of Orient in 1943 where he lived until November 2011. He resided at Crest Haven Care Centre thereafter.

Ralph enjoyed farming, hunting and trapping. He was a master carpenter and built and remodeled several homes in the surrounding area. He was active in 4-H as a leader. He raised pure bred angus cattle and took pride in his herd. He enjoyed coin collecting, antique tools and sharing fruits of their garden with neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris D. Lett in 2010; his parents, Arthur and Grace Lett; four brothers, Robert, Kenneth, Howard and Art; and three sisters, Mable Hayter, Ethel Sheets and Darlene Smith.

He is survived by his children: Leonard Lett of Orient, Linda Haver and husband Gerald of Sunnyvale, California and Carolyn Lauer and husband Jay of Colorado Springs, Colorado; three grandchildren, JR Lett, Gregg Haver and Abigail (Lauer) Roughton; two great grandson, Jake Haver and Bradie Lett; one brother Merrill (Dutch) Lett and wife Catherine of Macedonia, Iowa; other relatives and friends.