Ralph Sargent

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

On December 18, 2009, surrounded by his children at his home, Ralph Sargent left this life to spend Christmas with his beloved wife, Margaret, and his youngest son, Brent. Ralph was born in his family home on the west side of Hoytsville, Utah, to Betsy and Joseph Sargent on August 21, 1928. The youngest of 8 children, he spent his childhood in Hoytsville. He has one surviving sister, Glenna Hunt.

Ralph attended elementary school in a one-room school house in Hoytsville and graduated from North Summit High in 1947. In December of 1950, he was drafted and served two years in the United States Army, stationed in Yuma, AZ.

Ralph married Margaret Balls on July 29, 1953. Between 1954 and 1966, they brought six children into the world. Surviving are his daughters, Jo (Creight Horton), Barb (Matt Hall), Loa (Lane Swensen), and his sons Dale (Alma Lidia Cota Gonzalez) and Don (Jody Ingersoll ), He has nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He always greeted his family with a smile and whenever anyone said "I love you" to him, his answer was always, "Ditto."

Ralph was a skilled mechanic and was blessed with the ability to fix anything, and would often fix mechanical equipment for family, friends and neighbors for no charge. During his life he owned Ralph's Machine Shop, where he spent many hours puttering, as he would say. He worked for Mountain Fuel Supply in Rock Springs, WY; for Monsanto in Soda Springs, ID; for BYU Maintenance while attending Brigham Young University; for Brown Equipment Company in Hoytsville; and for Utelite Corporation. In 1984, after a 5-year struggle with heart ailments, he retired from Utah Power and Light where he had worked as a journeyman mechanic for several years.

Ralph was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Weber River in 1936. He remained dedicated to his faith throughout his lifetime, serving many callings in the Church. Although he did not serve a LDS Mission, he never missed an opportunity to preach the Gospel or deliver a sermon at every gathering, event or activity in which he was involved. He fully lived his religion and most recently expressed his testimony through songs and poetry.

Ralph has led a full life of varied interests, including fishing, gardening, inventing, gold prospecting, HAM radio, computers, cats, log-cutting, and most recently poetry and songwriting, which has been a real passion and joy for him and for us in this past year.

The family would like to thank Alpine Hospice, especially Ralph's care team. They have been a source of great comfort and support over the past year, going the extra mile with their compassion and care. The family would also like to thank all who have visited and called and have been so supportive since our mother's passing

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 at 12 noon in the Hoytsville Ward Chapel. Friends and family may call at the church Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.

Interment, Hoytsville Cemetery