Ralph John Drake, 83, son of Bert and Mary Olga Johnson Drake, was born Oct. 15, 1921, at Waubay, S.D. He died March 15, 2005, at Houston House.He married Beryl Jean Marquardt Dec. 17, 1944. They had three sons.Mr. Drake farmed in South Dakota until 1959. The family moved to the Solo community in the ’60s. He was a merchant from 1961 to ’80.He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Ralph Jr.; one brother, Earl Drake; and one sister, Bernice Engstrom.Surviving are his wife of 60 years of Houston; two sons, Steve Drake of Solo and Robert Jon Drake of Elk Creek; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.Services were March 18 at the Evans Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. David Kettner officiating. Burial was in the Oak Hill Cemetery. “
