Ode to Ralph Lawrence Rye

Clifford and Ralph Rye at the house near Rosewood
Ralph and fishing buddy showing fish, probably caught at Warroad, MN
Ralph Rye with Dick (L) and Bob Anderson

Today we celebrate the birth of Ralph Rye, the youngest of the eight children born to Henry T and Julia on December 5, 1929. Julia had 20 child bearing years, she was forty when Ralph was born; twenty when Oliver was born in 1909.



Ralph Lawrence Rye was born in North Dakota, Walsh , Lankin , District 29. His only living sibling, Ella, states the family were gypsy-like and moved around. Ralph was the only one born in North Dakota.



Ralph went to Columbus School near Rosewood. As we know from previous blogs, the Henry Rye family moved to the area in 1931. In 1938, Ralph Rye wins candy for selling the most seals at Columbus School!



Let's see what else the Times says about Ralph:



JULY 1941
7 3 Mr. And Mrs. Lloyd Anderson, Dorothy and Dick; Ralph Rye motored to Enos Olson’s
(Enos Olson is Ralph's uncle, the sister of Julia)



NOVEMBER 1944
Mrs. Lloyd Anderson, Mrs. Louis Cloutier, S/Sgt. Clifford Rye, Ilene Rye, Oliver and Ralph Rye were callers at Thief River Falls on Monday afternoon. We are certain this is when the last formal family picture was taken.



Sunday evening callers at the Lloyd Anderson home were S/SSgt. Clifford Rye, Oliver and Ralph Rye and Miss Ilene Rye and Melvina “Luckseer”. This was just before Cliff and Mel were married. The newspaper didn't know how to spell



AUGUST 1945
Ralph Rye and Miss Ethel Gulsvik called at the Lloyd Anderson’s on Sunday afternoon. I would love to know who Ethel is!!!



MAY 1946
5 16 Ralph Rye arrived here from Spokane, Washington on Sunday.



FEBRUARY 1947
02 20 Ralph Rye left for Spokane, Washington Monday were he will visited Mr. and Mrs. Louis Cloutier



JULY 1947
07 10 Clifford Rye, Ralph Rye, and Waldo Thompson motored up to Bemidji Friday, from there, Clifford went on to International Falls



SEPTEMBER 1948
09 30 Ralph Rye, who enlisted in the Air Force recently, left Monday for Kansas City where he begins his training.



AUGUST 1949
0616 Ralph Rye was taken to the Veteran’s hospital on Friday



AUGUST 1952
0709 Ralph Rye, who is working in Desoto, KS is spending a few days at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rye.

AUGUST 1952
0828 Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Rye, Linda, and Ralph Rye of Desoto, KS and Delores Nelson of Newfolden were supper guests at the Lloyd Anderson home on Tuesday night.



Ralph married Atropa Roberta Moncrief on May 16, 1953 in Olathe, Kansas. To their marriage three children were born: Lora, Reta, and Hank.



Although Ralph may have had a gas station for some time, I will always remember him as being a hunter and fisherman as well as having a trading post type business. It was interesting to look in the show cases of jewelry and other and see what he had found at flea markets or bought in Mexico.



Like his sister, Ella, the household was always open to visit. Ralph has a real gift to BS and will tell stories and stories and stories. If anyone is a keeper of photographs, it is this family. Ralph is a photographer and his daughter, Lora has inherited the gift.



Ralph, being the youngest, naturally heard all the family stories. And the story teller he is, it is certain he has past the magic unto his children and grandchildren....and by now, even great grand children.



We salute you, RLR.



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