Ralph Elness

Ralph Hilden Elness was born on December 22, 1932, on the shores of Independence Lake in Belmont, Township, Jackson County, Minnesota to the late Orvin and Selma (Hill) Elness. He was baptized at Hauges Lutheran Church near Bergen on February 26, 1933 and later confirmed in that same church. Ralph received his early education in school District #107 in Enterprise Township, Jackson County and graduated from Jackson High School in the Class of 1951. On February 12, 1953, Ralph enlisted in the United States Army and was later honorably discharged on February 11, 1955. He then returned to the Bergen area. On December 1, 1956, Ralph was united in marriage to Barbara J. Johnson at the American Lutheran Church in Windom. They then made their home in Bergen. This marriage was blessed with four children, Roger, Terry, Daren and Joel. From 1957 to 1977, Ralph was a bulk truck driver as the owner/operator of the Bergen Gas Station with his brother, Richard. He then went to work for Staples Oil Company in Windom with the same job until February of 1994 when he retired after 37 years as a bulk truck driver. After retiring, Ralph and Barb continued to live in Bergen. Barb passed away on J...[more]

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28, 2008. Earlier this year, Ralph was diagnosed with cancer and fought the disease courageously until passing away peacefully on Thursday, August 12, 2010, at the age of 77. Ralph was a longtime member of the Bethany Lutheran Church in Bergen. He also was member of the Sons of Norway (he was very proud of his Norwegian Heritage), the Bergen Brotherhood and American Legion Post 206. He had many enjoyments in life which included taking care of the Bergen Brotherhood Park, bowling, horseshoes, playing fast pitch softball, taking his wife to parades, his cats and dogs, news channels and politics, nightly bowl of ice cream and most of all his family, who he loved and enjoyed very much. Ralph is survived by his four sons, Roger Elness and his wife, Jenny, of St. James; Terry Elness and his wife, Marla, of Sauk Rapids; Daren Elness of Bergen; Joel Elness and his wife, Jodi, of Sartell; six grandchildren, Drew, Hailey, Kelly, Alex, Macy and Tyler; two brothers and one sister, Richard Elness and his wife, Doris, of Windom; Arlene Flynn of Worthington; Kenneth Elness and his wife, Dorothy, of Windom; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Ralph is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Barb Elness; brother-in-laws, Delmar Johnson and Dave Flynn. Blessed be the memory of Ralph H. Elness.