Ralph P. Nesheim
March 11, 1921 ~ January 17, 2018 (age 96) 96 Years OldShare using:
Memorial services for Ralph Nesheim of Warroad will be held on Friday, January 26th at 11 AM at Zion Lutheran Church in Warroad. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Memorials preferred to the Zion Lutheran Church or HELLP.
Ralph Phillip Nesheim passed away on January 17, 2018 at the Warroad Senior Living Center in Warroad at the age of 96.
Ralph was born on March 11, 1921 in Spooner, MN to John and Esther (Adolphson) Nesheim. Nesheim was a German name, but the family came from Norway. Along with his brothers and sisters, they walked a long way to school; where there lunches were frozen when they arrived. He always said he was the smartest one in his class, because he was the only one! He spoke Norwegian and later learned English. He started working after the 10th grade.
On September 12, 1942, he entered basic training in California and served in the 850th Engineer Battalion during WWII in Germany, France and England. He was discharged in November of 1945, earning the European-African-Middle East Theater Service Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal and a rank of T/5.
He and Margaret Steele met at a dance and were later married on June 27, 1948 by Rev. Ortmann. Ralph cut pulp at the Northwest Angle, worked in the potato fields, at the alfalfa plant in Swift and also worked at Marvin Windows. He also farmed, raised cows, sheep, pigs and had lots of chickens to butcher. He was a taxi driver for his wife and the granddaughters. He loved to eat, tell stories about the Army and was very easy going. He loved all of his newspapers, the senior center, watching the MN Twins, going to the grandkids sporting events, going for rides and was hoping to get new hearing aids so he could hear better. He loved people, and will be remembered as a great Dad and Grandpa.
He is survived by daughter, Marilyn Pomplun of Warroad and son Jimmy (Wanda) Nesheim of Fargo, ND; 5 granddaughters, Renee (Jake), Brenda (Rex), Annie (Tom), Tammy (Chris) and Theresa (Dan); 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Ruby Smith, Brother Doran (Ardella) Nesheim and sister-in-law, Erma Nesheim. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife of 69 years, Margaret; siblings, Clarence, Roland, Alver, Donald & Phyllis; and son-in-law, Paul Pomplun.