Ralph Arthur Leidholm, 86, passed away Friday, Jan. 25, 2008 after a long battle with congestive heart failure.
He was born Sept. 1, 1921 to Arthur and Elda Leidholm in Washburn, N.D. At age 12 he started hiring himself out to work on other farms. This helped him in later years having the experience work as an independent.
In 1941, Ralph followed his brother, Wilmer, to Seattle to work in the shipyard defense plant.
Doris followed shortly after and they were married in Seattle on July 18, 1942 at Gethsemene Lutheran Church.
Ralph joined the Navy in August 1942. He was stationed stateside when not at sea. After being hurt in a skirmish, he was on limited duty until his release from the Navy in October 1945.
They moved to Whidbey Island with daughter Priscilla, born January 1945. Ralph did some logging at this time. Son Larry was born October 1946.
Ralph was working then at a gas station in Clinton near home.
In 1950 the Leidholm’s went to Oregon where Ralph harvested greenery, huckleberry and ferns for a company for three years. Daughter Nancy was born
November 1952 in Oregon.
On returning to Whidbey Island in 1953, Ralph went to work for the ferry system and did bulldozing part time. Business was so good that he formed his own contracting business of septic tank installation, land clearing and developing. He sold the business in 1980.
Ralph and Doris then had time for rockhounding and traveling in their motor home. Ralph enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening and playing horse shoes. He was an active member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Clinton Progressive Club (he called bingo), a fishing club and a horse shoe group.
Ralph leaves his wife, Doris, of 65 years; daughter, Priscilla, (Hans), of Hemet, Calif.; son Larry (Judy) of Clinton; daughter Nancy (Doug), of Greenbank; five grandchildren, Matt, Nikki, Ryan, Nate and Stacey; seven great-grandchildren, Colton, Austin, Matthew, Kelsey, Wyatt, Wade and Kurtis; and two sisters, Joyce Johannes, of Hawley, Minn. and Marguerite Freeman, of Bainbridge Island.
He was predeceased by his brothers Gordon, Wilmer and Arthur, and sisters Ruth Fajerson, Elsie Brennise and Naomi Leidholm.
He was a caring, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. We will all miss him.
Viewing is from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31 at Visser Funeral Home in Langley. Graveside services for the family are Friday, Feb. 1 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church with a memorial at 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Ralph’s name can be made to Home Health Care and Hospice of Whidbey General Hospital, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church or a charity of your choice.
