Ralph Bartschi

Ralph Porter Bartschi, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, pharmacist, airplane pilot, avid game hunter, neighbor, and devoted disciple of Jesus Christ, peacefully returned home while sleeping on September 9th, 2026, in South Jordan, Utah. He was 94 years old.

Ralph was born on February 21st, 1932, in Georgetown, Idaho, to John Clarence Bartschi and Mary Margurite Porter. He waspreceded in death by his two loving brothers Ross and Denton.He remembered his childhood as idyllic—a life grounded in family, hard work, faith, and the simple blessings of growing up in southeastern Idaho.

Some of Ralph’s most lasting spiritual lessons came from his mother. Each night before he went to sleep, she shared her testimony with him. She taught him the importance of faith in Jesus Christ and told him that one day a temple would stand in Montpelier, Idaho, just 12 miles from the small town where he was born.

That belief remained meaningful throughout Ralph’s life. On the very week of his passing, the newly completed Montpelier Idaho Temple opened its doors for an Open House to the public. Its dedication is scheduled for October 18, 2026. For Ralph’s family, its completion provides a tender connection between the testimony of a faithful mother and the testimony her son carried throughout his life.

After Highschool Ralph Submitted his papers to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but due to the Korean war all mission calls were suspended, so he decided to attend Idaho State College in Pocatello, Idaho. While there, Ralph met the love of his life, Afton LaVonne Jenson. Their love story began one morning over breakfast. Ralph was working his way through college as a waiter in the girl’s dormitory. He was serving LaVonne’s table when their eyes met. Six months later, on June 12th, 1953, they were married in the Idaho Falls, IdahoTemple.

Ralph graduated from Idaho State College on May 31st, 1954, and devoted the next 60 years of his professional life to pharmacy. By the age of just 23, he and LaVonne had 3 kids and he was the proud owner of his own drugstore in Salmon, Idaho. Later he sold the store and moved the family to Meridian, Idaho and began working for Burroughs Wellcome Co. as a Medical Representative. After 26 years, Ralph retired from Burroughs Wellcome, and did relief work for other Pharmacists who needed emergency time off. He once calculated he had helped over 40 pharmacists in need. At the age 80 he finally hung up his pharmaceutical coat for good. His work reflected one of the defining qualities of his life: a desire to care for and serve other people.
Those who knew Ralph in his community knew him as a man who loved his neighbors and was always willing to serve. His influence was found not only in large accomplishments, but also in the countless ordinary acts of kindness, concern, and friendship through which he made others feel valued.

Ralph loved basketball and had a natural ability for the game. He was also a devoted football fan who enjoyed cheering for both BYU and Boise State. Whether traveling the world with Lavonne, following a football game, spending time with his family, or visiting with a neighbor, Ralph found happiness in the people and experiences with which his life had been blessed.

Above all, Ralph loved the Savior. As a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was known for his willingness and ability to testify of Jesus Christ. His faith was not merely something he expressed in words; it shaped the way he worked, loved, served, and treated the people around him.

Ralph and LaVonne went on to share 69 years of marriage. They built a family, faced life together, and traveled the world side by side. Their family grew to include 4 children, Kevin (deceased), Kent, Nola (John Kelly), and Kari (Dave Christensen-deceased), followed by many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ralph’s legacy lives in the generations who follow him. He leaves his family with the example of a man who understood the dignity of hard work, the importance of loving one’s neighbor, the joy of a devoted marriage, and the sustaining power of a testimony of Christ.
After nearly a century of life, Ralph leaves behind a large and loving family, cherished memories, and a quiet but enduring influence. Every dog, pet, and neighbor in the area became his best friend during his mile walks that he maintained daily even at the age of 94. He will be remembered for the love he gave, the people he served, the faith he shared, and the life he built alongside his beloved wife LaVonne.

A celebration of Ralph’s life will be held on Sunday, September 13th, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, Utah 84095.

Ralph will be laid to rest in Boise, Idaho, beside his beloved wife, LaVonne and son, Kevin (more information about this service to come).
His family finds peace in the testimony he shared so freely, in his lifelong faith in Jesus Christ, in the promise that loving relationships do not end at death and that families are truly forever.