Ralph J. "Butch" Kruse Jr.

Ralph J. Kruse—known to family and friends as “Butch”—passed away on April 23, 2025, in Oakley, Kansas. He was born in Denver, Colorado on October 9, 1948, and moved to Oakley as a young boy, where he spent the rest of his life surrounded by the people and places he loved.

Butch grew up working on the family farm -- milking cows, harvesting crops, and taking care of the land. He graduated with Oakley High School’s Class of 1966, but the best part of those years wasn’t found in a classroom. It was meeting his future wife, Cheri Hujing, at a high school wrestling tournament where she was cheering for Hoxie High. That introduction led to a partnership that would span nearly six decades.

Butch and Cheri married on January 7, 1967, and spent 20 years on the Kruse farm expanding their family with three children before eventually moving into town. In 1990, Butch started Ralph Kruse Trucking, and for the next several decades, the road became a second home. He traveled to all 48 states, picking up plenty of stories and meeting all kinds of people along the way.

Even when the road kept him away, family was always at the center of his life. He was a proud father to Shannon, April, and Heather “Buzzy” and loved watching the families they built. His eight grandchildren—Cameron, Bailey, Ian, Cassidy, Austin, Piper, Eli, and Justin—meant the world to him, and the arrival of four great-grandsons—Beckham, Wesley, Bowen, and Beau—made the family even richer.

When he wasn’t behind the wheel of his truck, you could often find Butch behind the handlebars of his shiny blue Harley, riding off to Sturgis or joining local poker runs. He had a way of being the life of the party wherever he went, quick with a laugh and always ready to make a memory.

Butch loved nothing more than spending time with his grandkids—celebrating birthdays, cheering from the sidelines at ball games, going horseback riding, watching school concerts, rooting for the Chiefs, and teaching anyone who’d listen how to play a good game of pitch or shoot a perfect game of pool. Every moment mattered to him, and he made sure they knew it.

One of the family’s favorite memories was celebrating Ralph and Cheri’s 50th anniversary in Las Vegas—riding into town in a stretch Escalade, gambling away just a little too much on the Strip, and laughing together over brunch at the Bellagio. It’s a memory that spans generations and one they will always treasure.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Herman and Mary Lintel and Ben and Carrie Kruse; parents Ralph and Armella Kruse; in-laws Paul and Ramona Hujing; sisters, Marilyn Hockersmith, and Karol Swart; brothers-in-law, Rod Wilkening and Terry Swart; nephew Ryan Hujing; and additional aunts and uncles.

Butch is survived by his wife of 58 years Cheri Kruse; children, Shannon (Paula) Kruse, Topeka, KS; April (Dale) Droste, Manvel, TX; Buzzy Koerperich (Kurt Anderson) Oberlin, KS; grandchildren and great grandchildren: Austin Kruse, Justin Kruse; Cameron Droste, Cassidy (William) Easter and son Beau; Bailey (Adam) Rusk and children, Beckham and Bowen, Ian Koerperich (Brandi Horton) and son Wesley, Piper Koerperich, and Eli Koerperich. He is also survived by his siblings, Rodney (MaryLu) Kruse, Connie Evans, Berny (Missy) Kruse, Janice Wilkening and God daughter Joni Farinacci, Robert (Chan) Kruse, Aunt Geraldine Swart and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held to honor Ralph on Friday, May 2nd at 2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Oakley, followed by a graveside service in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. The family welcomes you to commemorate at Buffalo Bill Cultural Center following the services. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph School and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com