Oct. 31, 1945 – June 30, 2025
Ralph Harold Anderegg, 79, of Sweet Home, passed away June 30, 2025.
He was born Oct. 31,1945, in Portland, Oregon to Henry and Isabel Anderegg. Ralph grew up on a dairy farm in Vernonia where he loved taking care of animals as well as hunting and fishing. He was a track and football star in high school and loved to joke about his record in the 200 meter low hurdles, which stands to this day, as the race is no longer being run.
He graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s and master’s in Agricultural Education. While at OSU, he met Nancy Lincoln of Corvallis. They married on Aug. 10, 1968. Ralph taught at Canby High School from 1968 to 1975 and advised the local chapter of the FFA, where he coached his teams to several state and national awards. During this time he felt God’s call to go into full-time ministry and he and his family moved to Dallas, Texas, to attend Dallas Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1979.
Ralph pastored Sunset Bible Church in University Place, Wash., from 1979 until 1991. He enjoyed hiking in national parks such as Mount Rainier and the Olympics. He loved fishing with his children.
Ralph spent the remainder of his life in Sweet Home, where he was pastor at Elm Street Baptist Church until 2013. He continued to serve as an elder and loved to teach the catechism class to the children, which he continued to do until 2020.
Ralph loved reading, hunting, fly fishing, and traveling to historic sites across the country. He particularly enjoyed his trip to Israel with his wife and son, Kirk, in 2000. He also treasured his time exercising with other Parkinson’s patients at Rock Steady Boxing, first in Lebanon and then in Albany.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Nancy of Sweet Home; their children, Kirk and Jennie Anderegg of Sunriver, Robert and Elissa Vanlandingham of Medford, and Jonathan and Courtney Anderegg of Worthington, Ohio; brother Ron Anderegg of Los Angeles, Calif.; and sister JeanAnn Borders of Lebanon. He was a proud grandfather of six grandchildren: Ellie Reed, Amelia Vanlandingham, Spencer Anderegg, Jillian Anderegg, Izzy Vanlandingham and Liam Anderegg.
He found solace in the words of Psalm 121, which begins: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”
Ralph will be deeply missed by not only his family, but the countless people he ministered to throughout his life. We are comforted knowing that he can now see face to face the One he served his whole life without the pain and anxiety of Parkinson’s disease that made his last few years a challenge.
A family graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, July 7, at Ames Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. at Elm Street Baptist Church, 1150 Elm St., Sweet Home, followed by a time of fellowship.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.