Ervin J. "Erv" Ringle

Ervin J. "Erv" Ringle, 71, of Parsons, passed away early Saturday morning, October 25, 2014 at his home. He was born March 20, 1943 in rural Parsons to William G. and L. Marjorie (Kilgore) Ringle. He grew up in the Parsons area and was a 1961 graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont. On May 2, 1962, he began working for the M-K-T Railroad which later became the Union Pacific Railroad. Through the years, he worked at various positions on the railroad until retiring on March 31, 2001 as manager of track projects. On June 7, 1963, he and Patricia K. Lahey were married in Miami, Oklahoma. After 50 years of marriage, she preceded him in death on September 2, 2013. He was a member of the Mother of God Catholic Church in Oswego. He took pride in taking care of his family, always putting their needs above his own. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, tinkering in his shop, playing on his tractor, gardening, working in the yard, golfing, fishing, hunting, and going to the casinos. He especially enjoyed going to his grandchildren's sporting events and spending time with his family and friends. Survivors include two daughters, Ronda Good and Mike, Altamont, KS and Regina Cares and Rene, Dennis, KS; four grandchildren, Heath Hilderbrand and Hillary, Altamont, KS, Alan Good and Virginia, Denver, CO, Tricia Cares and Preston Page, Dennis, KS, and Tyler Cares, Dennis, KS; one great-grandson, George Good, Denver, CO; one great-granddaughter, Rowan Patricia Hilderbrand, Altamont, KS; one brother, Sam Ringle and Pat, Parsons, KS; one sister, Glendola Roberts, Parsons, KS; his brother-in-law and best friend, Mike Lahey, and Jane, Parsons, KS; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter, Haley Hilderbrand, who passed away August 18, 2005; a sister-in-law, Ella York, and her husband, Jack; and a brother-in-law, J. B. Roberts. The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, October 30, 2014 at the Mother of God Catholic Church in Oswego. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons. The rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends immediately following the rosary at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home. Memorials, in honor of his dog, Roger, are suggested to PALS (Proud Animal Lovers Shelter) or Kansas Angels Among Us to help cancer patients in the local area with financial needs. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ervin J. "Erv" Ringle, please visit our flower store.