Ralph Paul Kinney 86, resident of The Garden at Orchard Ridge Assisted Living (formerly Coeur d'Alene Homes), departed this earthly life on April 28, 2015.

Ralph Kinney was born in Granite Falls, Minn., on May 27, 1928, to Paul and Alma Backer Kinney. He married Lois Wilkening on May 16, 1948, and they made their home on a farm outside Wood Lake, Minn., where they had four children. In the ensuing 67 years they also lived in Casper, Wyo.; Sparks, Nev.; Lake Tahoe, Nev.; Mesa, Ariz.; and ultimately, in Coeur d'Alene.

Following his retirement, Ralph and Lois enjoyed traveling the United States, sightseeing, and visiting family and friends. In addition to travel, Ralph enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, reading and gardening. During his retirement years in Arizona, he was a proud member of the Leisure World Barber Shoppers choral group.

Ralph will forever be remembered in our hearts as a devoted and cherished father, grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle and friend. A generous, gentle, quiet, kind man with a quick sense of humor and amazing ability to endear himself to anyone blessed enough to know him.

He loved the Lord and devoted much time in worship and service at the various Lutheran churches in each community in which he lived. Until his later years, he sang in the church choir. During his years in Idaho, Ralph was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Rathdrum.

Ralph was preceded in death by his loving wife of 67 years, Lois. He is survived by children Mark (Marsha) Kinney of Queen Creek, Ariz., Susan (Gary) Baker of Dalton Gardens, Idaho, Deborah Ash of Boulder, Colo., and John Kinney of Reno, Nev.; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Robert Wilkening and sister-in-law Sharon Opheim (Jim); and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, 2015, at Yates Funeral Home - Coeur d'Alene Chapel, 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Donations can be made in honor of Ralph to The Garden at Orchard Ridge Assisted Living Facility at 624 W. Harrison Ave., Coeur d'Alene.

Please visit Ralph's online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.

A Christian leaves a legacy through their walk of faith that does more than point us back to a wonderful life remembered - it also points us forward in hope to an amazing celebration that is to come.