Investing in New Beginnings: The Ralph & Joanne Wamsher Scholarship Fund – mykxlg.com
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Updated: August 29, 2025 @ 12:05 pm
{KXLG – Watertown, SD} Ralph and Joanne Wamsher believed in the power of education, not just as a path to personal growth, but as a second chance for those facing life’s unexpected turns.
That belief now lives on through the Ralph and Joanne Wamsher Scholarship Fund at the Watertown Area Community Foundation, established in 2024 to honor Joanne’s legacy and the values the couple shared throughout their life together.
Established by Ralph, who still resides here in Watertown, the scholarship honors the memory of his late wife, Joanne, who passed away in January 2023 at the age of 70. Though the couple hadn’t specifically outlined a charitable plan before Joanne’s passing, Ralph knew exactly what he wanted to do: create a scholarship that reflected the compassion and values Joanne carried throughout her life.
Joanne lived with multiple sclerosis for over 15 years, but her illness never dimmed her encouragement of others. Whether speaking with young EMTs assisting her at home or visiting with nursing aides during extended hospital stays, Joanne often asked about their education and urged them to keep going. She believed in the power of learning, not only because she had pursued education herself, but because she had seen what it made possible for others, including her own mother, who became a licensed practical nurse in her 50s after being widowed with no formal education.
That deep appreciation for second chances and new paths shaped the unique eligibility requirements of the Wamsher Scholarship. The scholarship is designated for nontraditional students in their second year at either Lake Area Technical College or Mount Marty University. Eligible recipients will be those who have been out of high school for at least five years, have children, or have experienced life-changing events such as the loss of a spouse or job, circumstances that led them to seek education as a way to reenter the workforce. “These are people who are looking for a new beginning,” Ralph said. “Joanne would have wanted to support that.”
Ralph and Joanne both understood how careers can evolve. Joanne earned a degree in history and initially pursued teaching, but found her calling in public service, supporting South Dakota families through economic assistance programs. Ralph’s own career journey took him from agricultural economics to manufacturing, where he eventually became the Safety Supervisor at Twin City Die Castings. Along the way, he took additional coursework at Lake Area Tech to meet the demands of his role, learning, adapting, and growing.
Since moving to Watertown in 1996, Ralph and Joanne immersed themselves in the community. Their involvement with Northern Prairie Arts introduced them to the Foundation, and over the years, Ralph met regularly with Foundation staff to explore grant opportunities. As Joanne’s health declined, those conversations evolved into something more personal – conversations about legacy.
And for Ralph, a scholarship made perfect sense.
“Education opens doors, especially for people who didn’t think those doors were available anymore,” he said. “Joanne knew that. She lived that.”
Today, through the Ralph and Joanne Wamsher Scholarship Fund, their story continues, supporting students who are finding their way forward, just as the Wamshers always encouraged others to do.
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