Ralph J. Roshau, 80, Dickinson, died peacefully on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at his home with family at his side following a short illness.
Ralph J. Roshau was born May 8, 1931 in Dunn County, the son of Carl and Margaret (Boespflug) Roshau. He grew up with 16 brothers and sisters and attended school in the New Hradec area. For four years, he honorably served in the U.S. Marine Corps and fought in the Korean Conflict. He graduated from the University of Boulder Colorado School of Banking in 1966 and worked as a banker for 43 years.
Ralph will be missed by his wife, Alice; two daughters: Deb (Lon) French, Broomfield, Colo., and Joan (Leon) Steckler, West Fargo; four sons: Glen (Marion) Roshau, Dickinson, Curt Roshau, Minneapolis, Minn., Doug (Janet) Roshau, Albuquerque, N.M., and Paul (Colleen) Roshau, Lewisburg, W.V.; seven grandsons: Jed Bloms, Fort Polk, La., Casey (Tiffany) Roshau, Fargo, Kelly (fiancée Courtney) Roshau, Dickinson, Luke Steckler, Mankato, Minn., Zach Steckler, West Fargo, Jake Roshau, Lewisburg, W.V., Sam Roshau, Lewisburg, W.V.; five granddaughters: Angela (Trevor) Ernst, Dickinson, Sarah Bloms, Westminster, Colo., Jessica (Jesse) Hentges, Fargo, Amanda Monroe, Albuquerque, N.M., Hannah Bloms, Frederick, Colo.; three great-grandchildren: McKenna, Claire, and Aiden Ernst, Dickinson; and his eight siblings, Francis Bullinger, Pauline Sadowsky, Kathryn (Ray) Jilek, Dolores Franchuk, Chuck (Jeannie) Roshau, Bob (Sharon) Roshau, Joe (Mary) Roshau, and Margaret (Bob) Clark.
On February 14, 1955 Ralph married Alice Dowhaniuk and together they raised six children. He was Vice President and Director at First National Bank for 24 years. In 1979 he became a Director and Loan Advisor for Liberty National Bank until 1999. Ralph continued his passion of training horses as the original “Horse Whisperer”. In addition to his work with horses, Ralph enjoyed visiting with friends and family, raising beef cattle, fishing, and supplementing his retirement income with Gin Rummy winnings. He was a member of the St. Anthony Club, American Legion, and a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, and a past member of the 7th Calvary, Elks, Eagles and Lions.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, two brothers, Harry and Richard; two infant brothers; three sisters, Anne Bullinger, Florence Haag, and Irene Franchuk; two sisters-in-law and three brothers-in-law.
