Ralph Duwain Kirkpatrick

Ralph Duwain Kirkpatrick, age 83, of Glendive, Montana, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, Oct. 6, 2014, of natural causes. Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. on Monday, Oct. 13, 2014 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. A service for family and friends will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, Oct. 13, 2014 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive with Pastor Dan Bartl officiating. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014 at the Glendive Alliance Church in Glendive with Pastor Dan Bartl officiating. Interment with military honors will be held at the Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Glendive. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with arrangements. Ralph was born on July 23, 1931 on the Kirkpatrick homestead in Sentinel Butte, North Dakota, the son of Ralph Theodore and Almira Odense (Myhre) Kirkpatrick. The oldest of three children, Ralph was raised on a combination ranch and farm north of Sentinel Butte. He attended grade school at the country school and graduated from Sentinel Butte High School with the class of 1950. Ralph enlisted in the United States Navy in 1951, where he served as a Boatswain’s Mate on the Destroyer USS Lowery D.D. 770 during the Korean War. During this time he met and married his best friend and the love of his life, Leona Mae Swanson on July 26, 1953 in Big Timber, Montana. To this union four children were born. Ralph continued serving with the Navy until 1954 when he was honorably discharged from the military. In 1955, Ralph began his career with Mountain Bell Telephone Company, where he remained until he retired in 1987 as the Outside District Plant Construction Manager in the Glendive District. Following retirement, Ralph and Leona started volunteer Christian hands-on work at various colleges, universities and Bible camps. They spent a month at the Trails End Bible Camp in Ekalaka, Montana. This was the beginning of them working with the Roving Volunteers in Christ Service Organization where they were part of 53 projects ranging from locations from Seattle, Washington, down the coast into Brownsville, Texas. They spent fourteen winters volunteering their help with RVICS. Ralph and Leona were members of the Glendive Alliance Church and the local Gideon Camp since 1972. He enjoyed working and helping to support the Eastern Montana Bible Camp near Bloomfield, Montana, fishing, camping (especially camping on the Boulder River south of Big Timber, Montana), time with his family and friends, woodworking, gardening, early morning coffee at Subway and lunch at Trail Star Truck Stop in Glendive, catching up on local news. Either with a phone call or a card, Ralph never forgot any family member’s birthday or anniversary. Survivors include: a sister, Karen Peterson of Sun City, Arizona; son David Kirkpatrick of Billings, Montana and his children: Sara (Tom) Bond and children, Nyah and Stella, of Missoula, Montana and James Kirkpatrick of Billings, Montana; son Douglas (Geri) Kirkpatrick of Glendive, Montana and their two children: Jade (Mickayla) Kirkpatrick and their son Bence of Bismarck, North Dakota, and Kayleigh Kirkpatrick (Nathaniel Packineau) and their daughter Nevaeh of Parshall, North Dakota; daughter Diane (Paul) Anderson of Terry, Montana and her son Jason Erhardt of New Mexico; daughter Terri (David) Moore of Sidney, Montana and their children: Jennifer and Jozi Moore, both of Sidney, Montana, and Josh (Hailee) Moore and their daughters Ainsleigh and Jamisen of Sidney, Montana; sister-in-law Carol Kirkpatrick of Billings, Montana; brother-in-law Raymond Swanson, Manhattan, Montana; numerous nieces and nephews; and KoKo, his Siamese cat and loyal companion. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Leona; brother, Glenn Kirkpatrick; granddaughter, Janae Susanne Moore; and son-in-law, Kenneth Erhardt. Memorials are suggested to Gideons, Box 1392, Glendive, Montana 59330. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Ralph Duwain Kirkpatrick

July 23, 1931 - October 6, 2014

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Ralph Duwain Kirkpatrick

July 23, 1931 - October 6, 2014

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support