Ralph L. Hartman, 93, Dickinson, died Thursday, March 22, 2012 at St. Benedicts Health Center, Dickinson. Ralph’s funeral service will be 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at St. John Evan. Lutheran Church, Dickinson, with Rev. Cal Oraw officiating. Entombment will follow at the Dickinson Mausoleum. Flag presentation will follow the service and provided by the Dickinson Honors Team member. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.
Ralph L. Hartman was born January 6, 1919 on the family farm near Regent, the son of Louis and Anna (Witte) Hartman. He grew up on the farm near Regent where he was also baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church. He graduated from Regent High School in 1938, and went on to attend the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, pursuing a degree in radio repair.
Ralph worked for Northwestern Bell for a time before entering the United States Army. He served honorably in the Army from 1942 to 1946, where he was an instructor in the Signal Corps, with telephone, telegraph and switchboard, earning the rank of Tech Sergeant.
He returned from the military and joined in marriage to Ann Branton on February 19, 1946 in Columbia, Miss. They farmed together near Regent until their retirement in the mid 1980’s. They then moved to Dickinson and have made their home here. Ralph had been a member of St. John Evan. Lutheran Church since the early 1960’s.
Ralph is survived by two sons, Wayne (Ruth) Hartman, Seminole, Fla., and Lynn Hartman, Dickinson; one grandson, Mitchel (fiancée Kelley Brown); and one brother, Clarence Hartman, Regent. He was preceded in death by his wife on March 6, 2006, his parents, and his sister, Alma Monke.
