Ralph Eugene "Pappy" Elliott

Ralph Eugene “Pappy” Elliott July 31, 1945 - September 28, 2016 On the flatlands of North Dakota, Ralph Eugene “Pappy” Elliott was born to Ralph C. Elliott and Charlette M. Woods Elliott. Ralph joined his twin brothers, Ronald and Raymond, and later arrived his only sister, Rose. He was baptized at Presbyterian Church, Mayville, ND, and attended schools in Clifford, ND. Ralph was nicknamed “Shortie” by his family. He enjoyed many delightful childhood memories, including being the nephew to “Legendary R.R. Double Day”, who was the rodeo photographer that traveled by airplane to their Clifford North Dakota Farm with “Roy Rogers and Gene Autry” (Silver Screen Cowboys), and their horse, Trigger. Many tales and rodeos were attended to. At just six years old, Ralph was driving tractors and miscellaneous farm equipment and doing farm chores with various livestock. Ralph’s father taught him at that young age to be an excellent sharpshooter; he walked country roads by himself, hunting those raccoons. Ralph also had fond memories of his father getting the team of horses ready to drive him to school. It was at the Mayville, ND, roller skating arena, that a young girl (Melody) of 12 year old, knew after one look at Ralph that he was the “special one”. So it was two years later, home from the Vietnam War, that they met on Christmas Eve, and it was love at first sight. They were married after a two year courtship at Zion Lutheran Church on July 5, 1969, in Ada, MN. Ralph Eugene Elliott and Melody Ann Holzkamm were joined together for 47 years of marriage. Ralph was a farmer, heavy equipment operator, diesiel mechanic, and welder; well qualified in the Red River Valley, ND, Wenatchee Valley and the West Coast. Ralph received an AAS Degree from Wenatchee Valley College, served on the WVC Automotive Board, and received a Diesel Mechanic Degree at Bellingham, WA, Vo- Tech Diesel School. During his retirement years, the couple traveled to Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Montana, North and South Dakota, and British Columbia. Two daughters blessed their union, Lisa Amber (1975-2012), and Claudia Lynn (1973); along with grandson, Pearce Eugene; granddaughter, Olivia; and son-in-law, Jay T. Jensen. My Ralph was gentle, yet a strong willed man, with a resilient spirit, despite his battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, PTSD, and leukemia from his war wounds under fire fights and the agent orange rain showers. He always had an ongoing love for his family, God, and country. Ralph was a true fighter, “a country boy” “my love forever”….HQ and COA 704th Maintenance Battalion 4th Infantry Division, Pleiku Vietnam. A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, November 9, 2016, at 3:00 p.m. at Jones & Jones-Betts Funeral Chapel, followed by an American Legion dinner at 4:00 p.m. Interment will be at Tahoma National Cemetery, Covington, WA. Arrangements are by Jones & Jones-Betts Funeral Home.

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Ralph Eugene "Pappy" Elliott

July 31, 1945 - September 28, 2016