Ralph
Long, 76
 Thief
River Falls - Ralph Long, 76, died Tuesday,
December 30, 2003 at Northwest Medical Center,
Thief River Falls.
Memorial
services were held on
Saturday,
Jan. 3, at St. Bernard's Catholic Church with
Father Tim McGee officiating. Military rites were
provided by Thief River Falls American Legion
Ecklund-Holmstrom Post 117 and Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post 2793.
Ralph
Long was born September 13, 1927 in Thief River
Falls, the son of William Ward and Melvina "Billie"
(Comstock) Long. He served in the U.S. Navy during
WWII, 1944-1946. He attended the University of
North Dakota 1946-1948.
He
married Lucille Minnette in 1946 in Fertile. They
divorced in 1953. He married Joyce Mary Schoner in
June 1954 in Valparaiso, Ind. They divorced in
1999.
His
43 years of work in newspaper management took him
over the majority of the central section of the
United States, including the Minneapolis Star
Tribune in Minneapolis, the Bemidji Pioneer in
Bemidji, the Wheaton Journal in Wheaton, Ill., the
Plymouth Pilot in Plymouth, Ind., the Sikeston
Standard in Sikeston, Mo., the Clinton Herald in
Clinton, Iowa, the Leader Telegram in Oshkosh, Wis.
and Eau Claire, Wis. and River Forest, Ill. Through
his work he traveled a great deal to other areas of
the country. In other business and recreation, he
owned a golf driving range, manufactured television
towers, he owned and operated Mississippi River
Marina, and he raced stock cars and snowmobiles.
Ralph
retired to Minocqua, Wis. in 1990 and worked at the
hospital for 7 years as a non-emergency transport
driver and captained an excursion ship in Northern
Wis. He further retired to Naytahwash, and
ultimately moved in 1999 to his hometown of Thief
River Falls where he happily organized a yearly
reunion of the class of 1945. Finally, he moved
into Valley Home.
He
enjoyed working in many organizations holding
various offices and receiving many awards for his
services. He had served as divisional chairman of
the Girl Scouts Capital Fund Drive in Clinton, Iowa
from 1966-67, the advanced gifts committee of the
United Fund Drive in 1966, he served on the Board
of Directors of Clinton Riverboat Days; he was a
member of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, the
Northern States, Central States, International
Circulation Managers Association; Daily Press
Association; several snowmobile clubs, the DAV, the
Elks and Kiwanis, Jaycees, Gyro International., and
Lions and the VFW Post 2793 in Thief River Falls.
He continued to do volunteer work when he returned
to Thief River Falls as an ombudsman.
He
enjoyed hunting, fishing, water skiing, boating,
car racing, snowmobiling and playing his keyboard
for his own enjoyment and for the residents of
Valley Home.
He
is survived by his second wife, Joyce of Minocqua,
Wis.; one son, Dr. William (Judy) Habedank of Red
Wing; one daughter, Diane (Charles) Williams of
Palm Desert, Calif.; one grandson, Brian and one
granddaughter, Laura, both of Plymouth; and
cousins, uncles, and many dear friends.
He
was preceded in death by his father, Ward Long; his
mother, Melvina "Billie" Comstock Long; and one
brother, Harry Long.
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