Ralph Holte

Ralph Ling Holte, of Fargo, formerly of Ellendale, ND, died on July 26, 2008 at MeritCare Hospital Palliative Care in Fargo, ND. Ralph was born February 10, 1921 in Stanfield, Oregon to Ralph A. and Georgia (Ling) Holte. In 1928, his family returned to Ellendale, ND, where Ralph’s father joined his brother Howard C. Holte to work at the Holte Funeral Home and Hardware Store. In 1937, after the death of Ralph’s father, the family moved to Lewiston, Idaho. In World War II, Ralph served as a civilian flight instructor for the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1946, he graduated from The College of Mortuary Science in St. Louis, Missouri, and returned to Ellendale to work as a mortician for his uncle, Howard C. Holte. In 1949, Ralph married June Briley of Ellendale. They remained in Ellendale for 50 years, during which time, Ralph was an active member of the Ellendale Airport Authority, Kiwanis Club, Ellendale Masonic Lodge, Jamestown (ND) Shrine Club and York Rite, El Zagal Shrine Temple, Ritualistic Divan, and the Royal Order of Jesters. Ralph also served on the Board of Directors for the Dickey County Building and Loan Association. In 1989, Ralph became the sole owner of Holte Funeral Homes of Ellendale, Edgeley, and Ashley. In April 1996, Ralph was honored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association for 50 years of service. In June 1996, Ralph sold the business after 114 years of Holte family ownership to Michael Carlsen of Aberdeen, SD, and retired. After the death of his beloved wife, June, in 1999, Ralph moved to Fargo to live with his son, Ralph Briley Holte. While in Fargo, he joined the Fargo Daylight Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite Bodies. Ralph enjoyed reading, flying, attending the symphony and theater, going out to dinner, and traveling throughout the United States and Europe. Ralph is survived by his son, Ralph Briley Holte of Fargo; his daughter, Joyce (Fred Tietze) Holte and grandson, Benjamin Tietze of Wheaton, IL. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and three sisters. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Roger Maris Cancer Center, Bethany Homes of Fargo or El Zagal Shrine Center. Visitation: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 from 5 to 7pm at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, ND Prayer Service: Tuesday, July 29, 2007 at 7pm at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 2pm at Carlsen-Holte Funeral Home; Ellendale, ND Visitation: 1pm at the funeral home Burial: Ellendale (ND) City Cemetery