Emelie Ralston was born June 7, 1871, to Endre and Sarah (Langland) Heimark, near Decorah, Iowa. At the age of three years, she, with her parents, moved to Yellow Medicine County by covered wagon and oxen. Her father homesteaded a claim in Lisbon Township. The family's first home there was a sod house. The first school she attended was in her father's own log cabin until a schoolhouse could be built. After completing grade school she went to Granite Falls to learn dress making and became an expert seamstress. In November, 26, 1890, she was united in marriage to Jacob Ralston, a machinist from Stillwater, Minnesota. Young Ralston came to western Minnesota to help thresher men with the steam engines that were then manufactured in his town of Stillwater. The first four years of their married life were spent in Stillwater. To this union three boys and two girls were born, Hilliard dying in infancy and Dr. Elmer Ralston preceding her in death. In the fall of 1904 the Ralstons moved to the farm they had purchased in Lisbon Township located one mile north of Clarkfield, and which for more than a half century has been known as "The Ralston Farm". Mr. Ralston passed away October 13, 1943. As time went on she missed his companionship more and more. Scleroisis developed and Mrs. Ralston needed the care of a daughter. She had made her home with her oldest daughter, Estella, most of the years since Mr. Ralston's death. On November first Mrs. Ralston was taken to Memorial Hospital. In spite of the best of care by doctors and nurses she passed away at noon, November 13th, 1950. She was 73 years, five months and five days old at death. Besides her busy life as a mother and home beautifer, she always found time to help others. She enjoyed visiting the sick and giving aid in any way she could. She loved her Lord and loved to work for Him. Surviving Mrs. Ralston are her remaining children: Mrs. Estella Troke of Clarkfield, Mrs. Sarah Love of Elyria, Ohio, and Harvey Ralston of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; besides four brothers, four sisters and eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Funeral Services from the home 1:30 p.m. Thursday, November 16, 1950, 2:00 p.m. Evangelical Lutheran Church, Clarkfield, Minnesota Clergy Officiating Rev. J.A. Sweeney Rev. J.E.H. Akre Rev. Lyle Foreman Rev. Edward Stenson Vocal Soloists Mr. Lyndon Lofdahl Mr. Martin Jurgenson Pallbearers James Eid ~ Joseph Nelson Andrew Droen ~ Earl Gough Gust Christopherson ~ Orph McCoy Final Resting Place Clarkfield City Cemetery Clarkfield, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota