Ralph von Ruden

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Ralph von Ruden passed away Dec. 24, 2020. Please join us for a celebration of Ralph’s life beginning on Tuesday, June 8, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck, from 6 to 8 p.m., where a vigil service will begin at 7 p.m. A service livestream will be available on the funeral home's website.

The celebration will continue with a Funeral Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, 519 Raymond St., Bismarck, on Wednesday, June 9, beginning at 11 a.m. The service can be livestreamed at this link:https://venue.streamspot.com/event/MjY5MDQ1Nw== 

Please proceed directly to the burial at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. 

If you would like to make a memorial in his name, please do so to The God’s Child Project.

We will appreciate that you wear a mask while indoors.

The angels are rejoicing, again!

We would like to share with you that Ralph’s work here is done.  On December 24, 2020, he was called to join the ranks of angels to become one of them.  While it was not a call we were expecting, we are confident he was ready to take it and be reunited with Janet.

There are so many qualities that endeared Ralph to us.  The first was his capacity for love – for his wife, his children and their families, his family and his wide-circle of friends.  It was always clear that we were deeply cared for.  He enjoyed being outdoors, especially in places like the North Dakota Badlands and he excelled at making friends wherever he went, stopping to chat with everyone, whether they were an old friend or a new one waiting to happen.  His laugh was infectious and loud and drew you in, making your day better for the joy.

Ralph had profound faith and was ordained a deacon in the Catholic Church in 1994.  He was never preachy but rather lived the values he held so dear.  These included living with integrity, doing your best without compromise and being kind to everyone, without judgment.  They will live on in us all.  And may we always remember to be safe, love deeply, to have fun, and “save the watch” just in time! 

If you would like to make a memorial in his name, please do so to The God’s Child Project.

Ralph H. von Ruden, was born October 21, 1948 in Reynolds, ND, to Hubert and Margaret von Ruden.  He married the love of his life, and his best friend, Janet (Nefs) von Ruden, April 18, 1970, losing her on October 20, 2016.  He is survived by his children and their families: daughter and son-in law Jennifer (von Ruden) & Mark Pollard, grandchildren Kale’a, Noelani and Kai; daughter and son-in-law Angela von Ruden-Doll & Bernie Doll, grandchildren Jonas, Lennon and Mara; son and daughter-in-law Matthew & Monroe von Ruden, grandchildren Tristen, Sam, Tryston, Hunter and Lauren.  He is also survived by sisters Barbara Teawalt, and Carol Stolberg, and brother David von Ruden and their families, and friends too numerous to name and whom we are indebted to for years of unwavering friendship.  Ralph spent the last months of his life in the company of Connie Heard who made him incredibly happy and to whom we are forever grateful.