Monday, September 30, 2013
This is Bonnie, Ralph's niece. Here are my stories about Ralph and how important family was to him: It was December 1970, and my ex-husband Matt and I were returning from an Army tour of 7 months in Germany. You were all living in New Jersey at the time. Matt arrived first, Ralph picked him up at the airport, drove him to Timbuktu to pick up our Volkswagen. Then I arrived a few days later to find that even though it was December, your family had taken a vote, and had decided to "hold" Thanksgiving until we arrived! How special that dinner was, it still brings tears to my eyes.
Another story- Ralph and Elaine shared an evening of music with us. That same weekend in 1970 Uncle Ralph and Aunt Elaine took us to a Broadway musical: the production was Fiddler on the Roof, starring the great Zero Mostel-- the only Broadway show I have ever been to. I remember walking down Broadway being so excited to go! I was barely 21. We had such a lovely evening! It was such a generous gift and still holds a great memory.
In the summer of 2006, Ralph's sister, my Mom Evelyn, fell and broke her hip at the cottage in Canada on a Saturday. I had her transported home to Michigan, & the hip surgically repaired by a surgeon friend on Sunday. When I called Ralph to let him know what was going on, he listened carefully, called me back on Monday, said he'd booked a flight to come to Michigan, could we pick him up? Not only did he boost Evelyn's spirits tremendously, he insisted that he and I go to the cottage to get it ready to sell. He was very practical- it took a little more convincing to have my Mom be ready to sell the cottage! But he was right, it was time. Ralph cleaned the glass in the lamplight there, ran the washing machine, we did a tidy-up, we met with a realtor, and he helped me gather up Mom's belongings. And had a whale of a good visit on the drive to and from Canada. Yes, family was important to Ralph. He will be missed.
Love to all my cousins, Bonnie Larson Oke
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