Obituary of Dr. Ralph R. Palmer, DVM

Parkston – Dr. Ralph R. Palmer, DVM, went to his heavenly home Friday, November 23 at Avera Bormann Manor in Parkston. Funeral service will be Wednesday, November 28 at 10:30 am at Parkston Congregational Church in Parkston. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 27 from 5 to 7 pm with a 7:00 pm prayer service at Parkston Congregational Church in Parkston. 

Dr. Palmer was born on the family homestead north of Gregory, SD on May 7, 1921 to Daniel and Christina (Rasmussen) Palmer.  Ralph’s education included 8 years of country school, graduating from Gregory High School in 1939 as Co-Valedictorian. He was active in the FFA and served as state president during 1939 - 1940. He attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD and graduated in 1943. 

Ralph entered the United States Army in 1943 and served in the 91st Infantry Division.   Ralph fought in the infantry in Italy and Germany until Armistice.  Ralph was honorably discharged in 1946. He was united in marriage to Luella Larson on June 1, 1946 in Lake Preston, SD. They lived in Worthington, MN for two years where he taught Voc. Ag. Ralph started the first Farm Veterans Program in Minnesota. 

In August of 1948, he was enrolled in the first Veterinary Medicine Class at the University of Minnesota. Upon graduation, Ralph and Luella moved to Parkston, SD where he owned and operated a veterinarian practice. Dr. Palmer lost the sight of one eye, making surgery difficult so Ralph retired from practice.  Ralph started working for the State Livestock Sanitary Board as Area Veterinarian.  In 1976, he was appointed as the State Veterinarian. He resigned the position in 1978 and resumed as Area Veterinarian until 1991 when he retired.  He truly enjoyed taking care of the sick animals and working with so many good animal owners. Ralph was active in the Salem United Church of Christ and sang in the men’s chorus.

In retirement, Ralph and Luella enjoyed traveling, especially in the early years with all of the family. They traveled to all 50 states, many parts of Canada, Japan, Russia, China, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries. He was inducted into the The South Dakota Hall of Fame in 1997, the Lions Hall of Fame in 2000, and received the Distinguished Alumni Award from SDSU in 2001. In addition to many other awards and accomplishments, he wrote two books, “There is a Better Day Coming “and "Country Horse Doctor". Dr. Palmer went to his heavenly home Friday, November 23, 2018 at Avera Bormann Manor in Parkston at the age of 97.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Luella of Parkston; 5 children: Linda Wermers of Eagle River, AK; Vicky (Dan) Ferber of Rapid City, SD; Ronda (Jack) Stoebner of Eagle River, AK; Cindy (Chris) Wilson of Raleigh, NC; and Bob (Vicki) Palmer of Sioux Falls, SD; 9 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren and brother-in-law, Vern Larson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, William J. Palmer; a sister, Be Etta Sinclair; son-in-law, Chuck Wermers; and grandsons, Mark Wermers and Kyle Wilson.