Benny J. Ralfs, 101, of Davenport, passed away Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at Ridgecrest. Visitation will be Sunday, October 5, 2025, from 2 pm until 4 pm followed by a Masonic Service at The Runge Mortuary. Services will be in the Koning Chapel at Ridgecrest on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 10:30 am with a visitation preceding at 9:30 am. His final resting place will be at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may go to St. Mark Lutheran Church or the Shriner’s Hospital for Children.
Benny was born in Davenport on August 14, 1924, the son of Ben and Brunhilda (Willers) Ralfs. He graduated from Davenport High School in 1942. He served in the US Army as a Staff Sergeant during WWII (1943-1946) in both the European and Pacific
Theaters.
He later was active in the US Army OBAM Reunion Group. He married his sweetheart, Velma R. Hamann, on September 6, 1947, in Davenport. She passed away on November 8, 2009.
He worked as a draftsman for Davenport Besler Corporation and Davenport Machine and Foundry and later worked as a project engineer at John Deere Foundry in Silvis, retiring in 1982.
His memberships included: St. Mark Lutheran Church, Brubaker Masonic Lodge #675, as a 33rd Degree Mason, Scottish Rite Bodies, Davenport York Rite Bodies, Snow Lodge (LeClaire), Mohassan Grotto, Davenport Elks Club, VFW Post #828, German American Heritage Society and the Northwest Davenport Turners.
In his free time, Benny loved golfing, bowling, and the music of the Big Band era.
He frequently woke up at 4:30 am to study electronic coursework which allowed him to enjoy tinkering with various electronic items and fixing them for family and friends.
Those left to honor his memory include his children: Nancy (Dr. Richard) Perkins, Iowa City, IA; David Ralfs, Davenport, IA; Jeanine (Terry) Miller, Urbandale, IA; Douglas Ralfs, Davenport, IA; and Lisa (Brian) Betts, IA; grandchildren: Adam Perkins, Laurel (Ben) Hall, Maureen (Sam) Beran, Luke (Annie) Perkins, Kent (Stephanie) Miller,
Kaitlin Miller, Kevin Miller and Kirsten (Ryan) Cote; great grandsons: Zion Perkins, Arthur Hall, Ira Hall, Ian Beran, Neil Beran, and Noah Miller; nephew, Ken (Pamela) Ralfs; great nephews, Gabe and Jake Ralfs; and great-great nephew, Brody Ralfs.
In addition to his wife and parents, Benny was preceded in death by a brother and his wife, Herbert and Roberta Ralfs; a nephew, Tom Ralfs; an infant great-grandson, Calvin.
