Ralph O. Milliken

Ralph O. Milliken, age 88, of Laurel, Nebraska, died on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at his residence. Funeral Services will be on Monday, July 29, 2019 at 10:00 am at the Laurel United Methodist Church in Laurel, Nebraska with Rev. Isaac Chua officiating. Burial will be in the Laurel Cemetery with military honors performed by the Laurel VFW Post 4504. Visitation will be on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 pm at the church in Laurel. The Wintz Funeral Home in Laurel is assisting with the arrangements. Pallbearers are Tom Schmitz, Kevin Kilawee, John Knudsen, Christina Schlautman, Corey Schmitz, Collette Sigala, Kyle Knudsen and Kody Knudsen. Honorary pallbearers are Jess Schlautman, Ruben Sigala, Kara Schmitz, Holli Peterson, Jess Wilson and all his great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Ralph Oscar Milliken was born November 11, 1930 in rural Wayne, NE to James and Dorothy (Kugler) Milliken. Ralph’s mother passed in December 1932 and James was remarried to Marie Pedersen. Ralph graduated from Wayne High School. He enlisted in the US Marine Corp and served from January 29, 1951 to January 28, 1954. He was on the frontline for 12 months straight in the Korean War. Ralph married LaVera Mae Urwiler on February 14, 1955 at the Laurel United Methodist Church. The couple farmed near Laurel their whole life. Ralph was a member of the Laurel United Methodist Church. He loved his family and farm life. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Ralph loved farming, raising black angus cattle and the freedom working out in the fields. He enjoyed taking drives in the country, looking for wildlife, watching the turkeys and the beauty of God’s country. Ralph is survived by his two daughters, Cindy (Tom) Schmitz of Wayne, NE and Candace (Kevin) Kilawee of Gretna, NE; son-in-law, John Knudsen of Laurel; five grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; sister, Lorraine Hovde of Sioux City, IA; two brothers, Jere (Lynne) Milliken of Cape Cod, MA and Ron (Jude) Milliken of Wayne; two sisters-in-law, Phyllis Campbell and Mary Ann Urwiler of Laurel; and many nieces and nephews. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; wife, LaVera on August 1, 2014; daughter, Colleen Knudsen; granddaughter, Katie Ann Knudsen; four brothers-in-law: Marvin Hovde, Harley Urwiler, Jim Campbell and James Urwiler; and a sister-in-law, LaVerne Urwiler.