1943
Ralph
2014
Ralph Erhardt
December 23, 1943 — September 26, 2014
Ralph V. Erhardt, Jr., 70, New Salem, entered God's happy hunting and fishing ground peacefully in his sleep September 26, 2014, after a 12 year battle against cancer.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, October 3, 2014, at St. Pius V Catholic Church, New Salem, ND with Father Selva Periannan as celebrant. Burial will be at St. Pius Cemetery in New Salem.
Visitation will be held Thursday, October 2, 2014, from 5:00-8:00 PM at St. Pius V Catholic Church. Praying of the rosary will take place at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Friday.
Ralph was born December 23, 1943, to Ralph J. and Elizabeth (Rambur) Erhardt in Morton County, ND. Ralph grew up on the family farm south of Center, ND and graduated from Center High School in 1961. In high school Ralph ran track and played in the band. He was especially proud of his 1949 Ford that he kept spotless. After high school he briefly attended Dickinson College. He then worked road construction for Loehrke Brothers and Northern Improvement.
He married the love of his life, Carol Kirchmeier on May 21, 1966, and they made their home in New Salem. Ralph started his career at Cenex of New Salem in January 1966. He was promoted to manager in 1994. Ralph served New Salem and the surrounding communities at Cenex for 44 years until his retirement in 2010. He loved looking at the fields, visiting with farmers, and fertilizing the land. During his retirement he continued serving the city, working at the landfill until his health deteriorated to the point where he could no longer work.
Ralph loved the community of New Salem. He, along with others, helped start the New Salem Ambulance Service where he served for 20 years. Through the years he was a member of the New Salem Fire Department, Central Morton Sportsman's Club, Land O’ Lakes Board, St. Pius Catholic Church where he served as a Eucharist Minister. Ralph served on the New Salem City Council from 1978 to 1986. He was elected mayor of New Salem in 1986 and served until 1994.
Ralph also loved running the chains for the New Salem Holsteins, watching his four sons play football and his daughter cheerlead. Ralph was an avid collector of guns, knives, fishing supplies, and antiques. Other than his family, Ralph's pride and joy was his garden, where he grew vegetables for his family and community members right up until his death. Ralph loved hunting, fishing and visiting with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. He could be found evenings at Cenex enjoying a Schlitz beer with his co-workers and whoever happened to stop in. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Ralph is survived by his loving and faithful wife of 48 years, Carol. His children and grandchildren: Mitchell (Charlotte) Erhardt, Poulsbo, WA, Trish (Nick) Thompson, Travis Erhardt; Brad (Dawn) Erhardt, Aberdeen, SD, Josh and Cory; Tom (Kellie) Erhardt, Bismarck, ND, Keaton and Kolby; Rebecca Jo (Ryan) Keller, Rochester, MN, Isabelle and Madilyn; Eric (Kathryn) Erhardt, Fargo, ND, Brilee, Lyla, and Rose. His siblings Beatrice (Joseph) Boehm, Don (Kathy) Erhardt, Dennis (Veronica) Erhardt, Delores (Robert) Wagner, Tim (Deb) Erhardt; his brothers-in-law Robert "Corky" Kirchmeier, John "Jack" (Nancy) Kirchmeier, Jerome (Pat Williams) Kirchmeier; sister-in-law Ida Kirchmeier, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents Ralph J. and Elizabeth Erhardt, his father- and mother-in-law Oswald and Amanda (Waechter) Kirchmeier, his brothers-in-law Kenneth and Donald Kirchmeier and his sister-in-law Lorraine Toepke.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, October 3, 2014, at St. Pius V Catholic Church, New Salem, ND with Father Selva Periannan as celebrant. Burial will be at St. Pius Cemetery in New Salem.
Visitation will be held Thursday, October 2, 2014, from 5:00-8:00 PM at St. Pius V Catholic Church. Praying of the rosary will take place at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Friday.
Ralph was born December 23, 1943, to Ralph J. and Elizabeth (Rambur) Erhardt in Morton County, ND. Ralph grew up on the family farm south of Center, ND and graduated from Center High School in 1961. In high school Ralph ran track and played in the band. He was especially proud of his 1949 Ford that he kept spotless. After high school he briefly attended Dickinson College. He then worked road construction for Loehrke Brothers and Northern Improvement.
He married the love of his life, Carol Kirchmeier on May 21, 1966, and they made their home in New Salem. Ralph started his career at Cenex of New Salem in January 1966. He was promoted to manager in 1994. Ralph served New Salem and the surrounding communities at Cenex for 44 years until his retirement in 2010. He loved looking at the fields, visiting with farmers, and fertilizing the land. During his retirement he continued serving the city, working at the landfill until his health deteriorated to the point where he could no longer work.
Ralph loved the community of New Salem. He, along with others, helped start the New Salem Ambulance Service where he served for 20 years. Through the years he was a member of the New Salem Fire Department, Central Morton Sportsman's Club, Land O’ Lakes Board, St. Pius Catholic Church where he served as a Eucharist Minister. Ralph served on the New Salem City Council from 1978 to 1986. He was elected mayor of New Salem in 1986 and served until 1994.
Ralph also loved running the chains for the New Salem Holsteins, watching his four sons play football and his daughter cheerlead. Ralph was an avid collector of guns, knives, fishing supplies, and antiques. Other than his family, Ralph's pride and joy was his garden, where he grew vegetables for his family and community members right up until his death. Ralph loved hunting, fishing and visiting with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. He could be found evenings at Cenex enjoying a Schlitz beer with his co-workers and whoever happened to stop in. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Ralph is survived by his loving and faithful wife of 48 years, Carol. His children and grandchildren: Mitchell (Charlotte) Erhardt, Poulsbo, WA, Trish (Nick) Thompson, Travis Erhardt; Brad (Dawn) Erhardt, Aberdeen, SD, Josh and Cory; Tom (Kellie) Erhardt, Bismarck, ND, Keaton and Kolby; Rebecca Jo (Ryan) Keller, Rochester, MN, Isabelle and Madilyn; Eric (Kathryn) Erhardt, Fargo, ND, Brilee, Lyla, and Rose. His siblings Beatrice (Joseph) Boehm, Don (Kathy) Erhardt, Dennis (Veronica) Erhardt, Delores (Robert) Wagner, Tim (Deb) Erhardt; his brothers-in-law Robert "Corky" Kirchmeier, John "Jack" (Nancy) Kirchmeier, Jerome (Pat Williams) Kirchmeier; sister-in-law Ida Kirchmeier, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents Ralph J. and Elizabeth Erhardt, his father- and mother-in-law Oswald and Amanda (Waechter) Kirchmeier, his brothers-in-law Kenneth and Donald Kirchmeier and his sister-in-law Lorraine Toepke.
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