Ralph M. Welte Jr. was born September 29, 1921, in Rising City, Nebraska, to Ralph Sr. and Kathryn (Misek) Welte. Ralph entered into rest Saturday, June 24, 2017, at the Louisville Care Center, Louisville, Nebraska, at the age of 95 years, 8 months, and 26 days.

Ralph married Beth Maxine Ingram, on November 30, 1946 in Louisville, Nebraska, and to this union they raised 5 children Ed, Paul, Nancy, Mary and Stanley. He worked at Ash Grove Cement Plant, farmed, ran the Louisville Recreation Center, worked at Foxley's Feed Yard, and served in the United States Navy in both the Atlantic and Pacific campaigns.  Ralph enjoyed duck hunting, fishing, trapshooting, but his passion was baseball.

Ralph played on the town team as a young man and was often called to pitch for neighboring teams. Ralph had a full ride to Purdue University to pitch baseball.  After a year he left and played on the St. Louis Baseball farm team and was being called up to the majors when he was called to serve his country during WWII.  When he returned from the Navy he was recruited again to the St. Louis farm team but would have been too old to play professional baseball at that time.  He moved to Oregon and again played baseball on the company team he worked for. He and Beth missed home and returned about a year later.

He coached ball teams in Louisville spanning over many years including coaching his sons and grandsons.  Ralph was a member of the Louisville American Legion, VFW in Plattsmouth, Ducks Unlimited and the NRA.

Ralph is survived by his wife Beth, of Louisville, NE children Ralph Edward (Betty), of Omaha, Paul (Donna), of Cedar Creek, Nancy (Laverne) Olson, Mary (Tim) Garcia, all of Louisville and Stanley (Carroll) of Tekamah, many grandchildren and many more great grandchildren, nieces Renee` Thakur of Weeping Water, and Carolyn Hall of Virginia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph M. Sr. and Kathryn (Misek) Welte, sister Norma Hart, grandsons Eric R Welte, and Mark Garcia, and great granddaughter Sloane Wright.

Funeral Services will be Thursday, June 29 ^th at 10:30 A.M. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 101 Broadway, Manley, NE, with burial at Glendale Cemetery, Louisville, NE. Family suggest memorials to the families choice.

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 28 ^th from 9 A M. until 4 P.M. at the funeral home, then continue at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Manley, NE from 6 P.M. until time of Rosary at 7 P.M.

Condolences may be sent to fusselmanallenharvey.com

Arrangements By:  Fusselman Allen Harvey Funeral Home, 413 Elm Street, Louisville, NE 68037   402-234-3985