Cleo "LeMoine" (Mosteller) Ralston
August 31, 1934 ~ August 10, 2024
Cleo “LeMoine” (Mosteller) Ralston died August 10, 2024. She was the seventh of fifteen children born to Fredrick Perry and Vivian Ivy (Mounts) Mosteller on August 31, 1934, in Wichita, Kansas.She is the LeMoine/Mrs. Ralston you may know from Sunnyside Nursery, Pawnee Avenue Church of God, Project Partner, Ninth Street Church of God, Bible Clubs on North Estelle and Minneha Elementary, World Impact, I Can Do Gymnastics, First Covenant/The Journey Church, or “Circle of Hope” widows group at Hope Community Church.LeMoine was a blessing to many throughout her life. She was dedicated to service, hospitality, and peacemaking as the outflow of her deep commitment to following Christ. She, along with her husband Loren, served in the ministries of World Impact and Project Partner. She was a strong and humble woman, content to serve in unseen ways.She married Loren J. Ralston, Jr. in 1955 and he preceded her in death in 1991, making her a widow at the age of 56. She was also preceded in death by her parents; and siblings; Ralph, Neil, Tom, Ken (Oki), Deanie and “Baby Brother” Mosteller, Edith (Art) Teeters, Doris (George) Bailey, Barbara (Lloyd) Pieratt, and Mary (Joe) Matthewson.She is survived by her children, Jim (Debbie) Ralston, Joni (Brad) Hawks, Tim (Theresa) Ralston; by grandchildren, Jimmy (Diona Sanders), Steven (Maria) Ralston, Michael (Aubrey) Ralston, Bradley (Faith Plummer), Colter (Shannon) Hawks, Rachael (Derek) Berg, Laura (Matt) Rivers, Jennifer Ralston, and John Ralston; as well as a dozen great-grandchildren who were the joy of her life and who kept her anchored to this world. She is also survived by her (Mosteller) brothers, Jim (Joyce) of Columbia, SC; Tim (Peggy) of Tahlequah, OK; Terry (Claudia) of Arlington, WA; sister Nancy Jones (husband Bob, deceased) of Wichita; and sisters-in-law, Marilyn Mosteller (Tom, deceased) of Haysville and Mary Jane (Ralston) Browning (Ed, deceased) of Palm Bay, Florida. “Aunt LeMoine” will be missed by her many nieces and nephews.She graduated from East High at the age of 16 and took classes at WSU. She served as bookkeeper for her father at Sunnyside Nursery, and throughout her life for various family businesses and ministries.She married Loren in 1955 at Pawnee Ave Church of God. LeMoine taught Sunday school, served on the missions board, and graced the altar and numerous weddings with her floral arrangements. Gardening and especially her “Secret Garden” for the grandkids were labors of love to her, and she could share many life lessons relating to plants and nature. LeMoine accepted Christ at the age of six in a Bible Club led by neighbor, Mrs. Burnam. She felt a strong call to missions, and as a young married woman, dedicated her life to service. Though she never served as a long-term missionary, her life of investing in others yielded much fruit in her family, friends, and the Church across the globe. She traveled to seven countries in Central America and the Caribbean, serving as a stewardess and workcamp leader for Project Partner. She and Loren led trips together to Managua, Nicaragua, helping to rebuild churches and schools after the 1972 earthquake. They assumed leadership of a neighborhood Sunday School ministry on North Estelle street in the late 60’s, and taught Boys & Girls Bible Clubs and a weekly “Quest” event for teens. This ministry was turned over to the leadership of World Impact after several years, yet Loren and LeMoine remained deeply involved. Her love and appreciation for the “North Estelle kids” and staff of World Impact is hard to put into words.She has been called an angel, a saint, and “Jesus with skin on,” but we know she would prefer to be remembered as a servant committed to being a growing follower of Jesus. She was a kind, gentle soul who loved people as they are, and who worked in quiet, often unseen ways to help others.Her hospitality and caring for others extended to many, and especially to her family. She was a natural caretaker, a hard worker, and being on a tractor or holding a grandchild was her happy place. After a stroke on January 2, 2023, her family was blessed with 19 months of “bonus days.” Her influence was broad, her impact strong. “Her children rise up and call her blessed.”Visitation will be from 4:00 - 6:00 pm, Friday, August 30, 2024, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Funeral Service will be Saturday, August 31, at 10:00 am at Hope Community Church in Andover, KS. Burial will follow at Indianola Cemetery. Memorials have been established with The Journey Church, 9999 E. Harry, Wichita, KS 67207 and World Impact, P.O. Box 80507, City of Industry, CA 91716.
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She always was kind to me.. shared encouragement, what a wonderful person..I admired my cousin and I very much
LeMoine was like a second mom to me, I loved spending time at their house, she was always a giving person- taking care of everyone
My condolences to Tim and the rest of Mrs. Ralston’s family. Periodically I would attend Sunday School at the house on North Estelle when I was a child. I remember being in Christmas programs at the “Big Church” for several years as an angel. The last year I was an angel, my lines increased increased quite a bit and I refused to learn the many new lines. I thought I would be able to just recite the lines I did the previous year, which I did perfectly. However, when Mrs. Ralston realized I did not know the rest of the lines assigned to me, she came to my aid and fed me all the new lines during the night of the program (we had no previous rehearsals). I also remember attending a Halloween party at her home with several of my older siblings. I was hesitant to attend because I was scared that I might be spooked by something. It turned out to be a fun event and I bobbed for apples for the first time. The last event I remember attending with my siblings was a summer swimming activity. One of my sisters taught me how to float. Our family moved to a new home in a new neighborhood and my siblings and I stopped attending Sunday School on North Estelle. Several years after moving to a new home and going to a new school, I was surprised to see Mrs. Ralston walking past my classroom at Isely elementary. I learned that her son Tim was also a student at my new school. I last saw Mrs. Ralston a number of years later when I worked at the Wichita Mall and she came into my store to make a purchase. Recognizing the last name on the check when she presented payment, and her short red hair, I asked her if she was Mrs. Ralston that was associated with the North Estelle Sunday school. Although she did not remember me, she spoke fondly of the kids that attended Sunday School. I still remember her big friendly smile as she reminisced about the good old days. May she rest in peace.
My condolences to the Mosteller and Ralston families. LeMoine was a gracious, caring person.
My mom, Colleen McAllister Friederich, and LeMoine are cousins. Upon my mom’s passing, one thing LeMoine expressed to me was that she always felt that she & Colleen were kindred spirits. They shared a lifelong bond of cherished and humorous memories from early childhood & throughout their lives.
As these beautiful women are reunited, may they again share joy in one another’s company. And give Aunt Vivian a hug from me as I often think of her & her spirit 😇 ❤️
Colleen’s daughter,
Terry Jo Litchfield
Lemoine…You lived a full and exceptional life. At times your live may have seemed somewhat long. But after it was all said and done…you looked back in Wonder. Appreciating your great Blessings from the Lord Jesus. If our own lives could be as sensational as yours then we can say we Lived. God Bless your sweet life along with your loving family.