Obituary of Ralph Lemke

Ralph Walter Lemke, 91, of Crown passed away on Saturday, June 2, 2007 at his home. He was born April 3, 1916 in Stanford Township, Minnesota to Fred and Emma (Kriesel) Lemke. He grew up in Crown where he attended country school. On September 21, 1940 he was united in marriage to Evelyn Whittlef at Zion Lutheran Church in Crown. They made their home in Zimmerman for a few years before purchasing a dairy farm in Crown where they farmed and raised their two children. In 1976 they sold the farm and purchased Lemke's Store in Crown from Ralph's parents. They owned an operated the store for 30 years and thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of the many people over the years. Even after selling the store, Ralph and Evelyn continued to make it there home. Ralph was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church in Crown and was active on the Cemetery Board as well as in the Men's Club. He enjoyed big game hunting, fishing and traveled the United States visiting 33 states over the years. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters Ruth Rootes, and Lois Hanson, three brothers Edgar, Donald and Clarence Lemke. Ralph is survived by his wife Evelyn of Crown, daughter Sherry (Al Jr.) Elleraas of Monticello, son Sid (Nancy) Lemke of Columbia Falls, MT, four grandchildren Allen (Katie) Elleraas III of Eagan, Eric (Katie) Elleraas of Blaine, Tim (Katie) Elleraas of Clinton, MT, Kelly (Nate) Anderson of Chinook, MT, five great grandchildren Chase, Koleman, Caleb, Tai and Daenin, sisters-in-law Theresia Whittlef of Crown, Gertrude Whittlef of Andover, and Ruth Lemke of Spring Lake Park, brothers and sisters-in-law Mike and Beatrice Johnson of Zimmerman, Wesley and Esther Whittlef of Minneapolis, as well as many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.