Ralph Frank, 91, Dickinson, ND, died Friday, September 28, 2007 at Hill Top Home of Comfort, Killdeer, ND. Ralph’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Dickinson with Fr. James Braaten officiating. Interment will follow at St. Pius Cemetery, Schefield, ND. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson. There will be a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m., Tuesday at Ladbury Funeral Service with Deacon Robert Stockert presiding.
Ralph Frank was born January 4, 1916 on the family farm in rural Schefield, ND to Anton and Katherine (Wandler) Frank. Ralph attended St. Pius Catholic School and helped on the farm until joining the CCC at the age of 18. After working for the CCC for five years Ralph married Rose Schoch at St. Pius Catholic Church and they began working their own farm SW of New England, ND. Ralph and Rose moved their family to Minnesota in 1945 but returned to New England in 1959 where he bought the Red Owl Grocery in 1959 and later the Super Value Grocery Store, which he owned until 1965. Ralph and his family moved to Dickinson in 1968; he was semi-retired except for the 17 summers that he and Rose managed the Ferris General Store in Medora, ND.
Ralph was an avid card player and he enjoyed reading and working crossword puzzles. He truly had an ear for music but his highlight was dancing with Rose.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Rose and nine children; four sons: Robert (Arva), Corvallis, OR, Denis (Lauren), Scottsdale, AZ, Gerald (Sarah), Ft. Lupton, CO, and Charles, Boulder, CO; five daughters, Judith (Ben) Athmann, Little Falls, MN, Jane Pekas, Boulder, CO, Bonita (Don) Auten, Broomfield, CO, Mary (Dave) Narum, Westminster, CO, and Margaret Frank, Dickinson, ND; 20 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, one sister, Helen Dassinger and one brother Emil (Pat) Frank, and many nieces and nephews.
Ralph was preceded in death by two sisters, Jean and Mathilda; two brothers, Jack and Valentine; two grandchildren, Kelly Frank and Lisa Pekas; three brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law.
