Ralph R. Barnaby Sr., 97

Ralph, 97 years young, a many-year resident of Columbia Falls and husband of Dorothy (McElwain) Barnaby for 66 years, passed away peacefully in Puyallup, Washington, on Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, “and is now with his Lord, Jesus Christ.”

 Ralph was born in Wibaux, Montana, on Oct. 4, 1917. He joined the U.S. Army in 1940 and was stationed at Pearl Harbor during the bombing on Dec. 7, 1941. After his military career he attended and graduated from Montana State Normal College (Western) in Dillon where he met and married Dorothy in 1948. Ralph moved to Columbia Falls in 1949, where he was a junior high math teacher and coach for 30-plus years. He also spent his summers working in Glacier National Park.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Dorothy; and nine of their 10 children, Ralph Barnaby Jr. and Elana, Linda Moldestad and Norman, Elaine Thompson and Nels Maki, David Barnaby and Barbara, Mary Driscoll and Mike, Laura Couty and Pete, Robert Barnaby and Jacey, Barbara Cozza and Sam, and Margaret Pfeifle and Scott; 25 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his infant son, Wayne Michael.

Ralph was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  He will be truly missed by all.

A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at St. Richard’s Catholic Church. The funeral will also be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, at St. Richard’s.