Blanche Sarah (Emard) Ralph Obituary

Blanche Sarah Ralph (nee Emard) passed away peacefully at the age of 96 in Langley BC on May 12, 2020. Born December 17, 1923 the youngest of 8 children, in Raush Valley (near McBride), she was proud to live her entire life in BC. Her family moved to Vancouver when she was a young girl, where she attended school and then worked for Boeing (aircraft) as a Riveter, assembling PBY’s for the war effort during WWII. Boeing was where she met her first husband, Larry Zenzen, the father of Blanche’s first four sons. After Blanche and Larry parted ways, she met and married Ron Ralph, the father of her youngest son.

While raising their 5 sons, Ron and Blanche farmed; planting and harvesting grain, raising cows and hundreds of hogs. They then turned to harvesting alder trees, for processing into spools. They later owned and operated their own sawmill. Their final business venture, Ralph and Sons Trucking is still in operation today. It is presently owned and operated by son, Jim Ralph. Blanche was the office manager and dispatcher until she eventually retired in 1986, a year after Ron passed.

Blanche was a bulletproof, feisty gal - a real character who loved to laugh and sing - the boys can still remember hearing her sing as she went about her daily routine. She loved to tell stories, reminisce and travel with her many friends. She always enjoyed lunch with friends or family - her favourite spot was Adrian’s At the Airport, where she could indulge in another of her favourite pastimes, watching planes land and take-off.

Blanche was predeceased by her husbands Lawrence Zenzen and Ronald Ralph, and stepson Murlin Ralph (Natalie). She is survived by her sons, Clifford Zenzen (Susan), David Zenzen (Vivian), Stanley Zenzen (Louise), Daniel Zenzen (Rita), and James Ralph, her stepdaughters Dorothy Margaret and Mary, 12 Grandchildren, 26 Great Grandchildren and 1 Great Great Grandchild.

Blanche often said “I don’t know what I’d do without my boys”. She will live on in our hearts and our memories with her endless repertoire of old school expressions. The old jokes are best folks, are they not? Thanks for the memories, Blanche…