He was born in Chicago, IL on June 7, 1921 to George and Lura (Eldridge) McBride. He was raised and educated in Chicago until he left to attend Grinnell College in Iowa. His college education was interrupted for service in WWII with the US Coast Guard. Ralph was sent to Superior for assignment to one of the Coast Guard cutters built in Superior during that time. Here he met and later married Beverly Hocom of Superior. Following his service he returned to Grinnell and graduated from college in 1947. He joined the offices of US Steel’s Oliver Mining Company and over the following 35 years worked in various offices of the corporation in financial, accounting and other corporate offices in Duluth, on the Iron Range, in New York City and Pittsburgh.
Ralph enjoyed spending time with family and friends particularly at the cabin on West Bearskin Lake. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 58 years, Beverly; two brothers, Eldridge and George and his parents.
Ralph is survived by his daughters, Susan (Dale) Raether of Esko and Claudia ( Doug Welnetz) McBride of Duluth; five grandchildren, Kelly (Andrew) Raether-Prevost, Lura Harvey, Dessa Harvey, Cole Harvey, Oliver Swenson; as well as many other family members and friends.
A Celebration of Ralph’s Life will be held from 2-5 P.M. on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at Bell Brothers Jarvi-Dowd Funeral Home 925 E. 4th St. Duluth. Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery.
Arrangements under the direction of Bell Brothers Jarvi Dowd Funeral Home, Duluth, MN.
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