Ralph Leslie Langford

Ralph L. Langford, 94, passed away September 26, 2014, at the Cache Valley Assisted Living Center in Providence, Utah.
Born August 13, l920, in Blackfalds, Alberta, Canada, to John Leslie Langford and Lucille Rising Langford, he was the third of five children, two brothers and two sisters. He lived in Blackfalds until he was 4-years-old, when his family moved back to the states and settled in Pegram, Idaho. There they farmed 800 acres. When he was 5 he was permitted to start helping with milking the cows. He remembered so well wanting to do this, and a few years later he well remembered wanting to quit! This job was one he was never able to get out of. After he was 6, he would drive four head of horses pulling three sections of harrows, while his father and older brother would be driving 12 or so head of horses on a plow. They had no modern conveniences and very few comforts of life. They were taught to work hard for everything they got. Whenever Ralph went looking for a job, and they found out he was Les Langford’s son, he always got the job, because they knew he knew how to work hard.
In 1931, the family moved to Cokeville, Wyoming, where they lived and farmed until they moved to Montpelier, Idaho, during World War II, while Ralph was serving in the United States Army Air Corps. When he returned from the service, he worked with his brother in Montpelier in the electrical business and learned this trade.
Ralph married June Oakey on August 27, 1948 in Montpelier, Idaho. Not long after, they moved to Cokeville, Wyoming where he had his own business, Langford Plumbing and Electric. While in Cokeville he also worked for Pacific Power and Light Co. They moved to Malad, Idaho, after Pacific Power was bought out. He worked in Malad for a few years at the same company until they were bought out by Utah Power and Light. After that, he moved his family to Rupert, Idaho, where he and a friend started a sporting goods store and he worked for the City of Rupert. He later gave that up to be Manager at East End Mutual Electric, where he worked until he retired.
He loved to fish and hunt. One of his most exciting hunts was when he and Bill Ryan killed the second largest black bear on the American Continent for the year 1955. He and his wife were able to go back to the Boone and Crockett banquet and awards program in New York City where he received an award for the record bear.
In January of l988, he and his wife left to serve a mission in the Johannesburg, South Africa Mission until June l989. In December of 1989, they decided to move closer to family in Logan, Utah. Even though he was retired, he never stopped working. He spent and enjoyed many hours woodworking in his shop. He made beautiful china cabinets, cupboards, floor to ceiling bookshelf units, frames, and over 300 lamps of all sizes and varieties of wood. He and his wife served for several years as ordinance workers in the Logan Temple. Ralph was known and loved for his service to others, always helping wherever needed. He was also known for his famous dutch oven dinners. Ralph loved his family and being with them. They were his greatest joy and came first and foremost in his life. He left his posterity with a legacy of integrity, a great work ethic, a love of God and Country, and service to his fellowman.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Duane and Ronald. He is survived by his wife June, son Jimmy (Yvonne) Langford, and daughter Carol Ann (Richard) Dayton, 12 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and two sisters, Juanita Derricott, and Fern Nate, and a sister-in-law, Eulalie Langford.
Funeral services are under the direction of the Allen-Hall Mortuary, and will be held at the LDS Mt. Logan Stake Center located at 525 E. 100 South, Logan, Utah on Friday, October 3, at 11 a.m., with a viewing Thursday, Oct. 2, from 6-8 p.m. at the mortuary. A viewing will also be held on Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the services. Burial will be at the Montpelier, Idaho Cemetery at 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 3rd. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net .