Ralph G. Oehmcke

Ralph G. Oehmcke, 89, passed away at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home on Dec. 8, 2013. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, at 11 a.m. at American Lutheran Church in Chinook, with burial services, including military honors, following at the Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements have been made with Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.

Ralph was born on Dec. 30, 1923, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Paul and Hilda Oehmcke. Moving from California and settling in the Fairview community, he attended South Fairview Elementary School, south of Chinook and graduated from high school in 1942. He was drafted in the first teenage draft in the U.S. Army in World War II. After serving in Patton's 3rd Army, during the Battle of the Bulge, he returned to the United States in January 1946. He married Lucille Johnson in October 1946. They returned to the family farm, working in the winter months for U.S. Sugar Co. and were blessed with five children.

Ralph worked for the Soil Conservation and PCA as a fieldman. In 1972, he was appointed by the commissioners as an appraiser. Later he worked for the Department of Revenue as a state appraiser. He sold life insurance and started his own independent company, Oehmcke Distributors.

Ralph was a lifetime member of the VFW and the American Legion and was the veteran service officer in Blaine County for many years. He also served as Blaine County justice of the peace.

He loved music and played for over 50 years, starting with the Milk River Wranglers. He played with Jack Felton (fiddle), John Elias, Ralph Bosch, Joe Hermes (all guitars). He also played on the radio. Through the years, he played with many other great musicians.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Lucille; daughters, Carolyn Little of Chinook and Barb (Marvin) Newfeld of Havre; sons, David (Terri) Oehmcke of Butte, Jim (Gayla) Oehmcke of Cascade and Bill (Wendy) Oehmcke of Chinook; 14 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

Ralph is preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Robert Paul Oehmcke.