Ralph grew up on a wheat and cattle ranch in Sprague, WA. He had so many amazing stories to tell of his life on the farm, from herding cattle on horseback (and getting bucked off), squaring up with rattlesnakes in the brush, driving combine, bucking bales, and all the hours spent around the kitchen table with his family. He showed at a young age that he was good with mechanical things, always taking things apart. He was forever looking for a new hobby to keep himself occupied.

During his high school years, he and his brother Alan, along with a few good friends formed 2 rock bands (“The Suicide Attempt” and “Keystone”) playing high school dances at neighboring towns. He always loved music and was a talented guitar & trumpet player and singer. He played on the basketball team and excelled in shop class. He even brought a (dead) rattlesnake to school and convinced the teacher to cook it, but she only agreed to it if everyone in the class took a bite.

He decided farm life was not in his future so he received his bachelor’s degree at WSU in Fine Art. He then went onto pursue a career in accounting, passing the CPA exam on the first try. He became partner of a CPA firm, eventually buying out his partners. He felt so fulfilled helping his clients and would often say “I love what I do!”.

Ralph and his wife Jan lived in Portland, OR in a grand 1913 home in Laurelhurst for 40 years. They spent much of that time renovating the house. With the talents he gained from his youth, Ralph did most of the remodeling work himself constructing beautiful woodwork, restoring lathe & plaster, updating electrical and plumbing. They bought a 21.6 ft boat and for 10 years enjoyed summers on the river with friends laughing, swimming, fishing, and playing music. He was the captain of his ship. Their next move was to Charbonneau, a resort living community, where they downsized to a quaint townhome on the golf course, and he continued his accounting practice at home.

He was pre-deceased by his parents Lorenz and Jean and his brother Alan. He is survived by his wife Jan at home, his sisters Ann (John) McMurray in Dallas, TX and Janet (Joe) Whipple in Sprague, WA, 4 brothers-in-law, 1 sister-in-law + 12 nieces and nephews. Ralph will be laid to rest in Mount Angel, Oregon.

He will be greatly missed.