Ralph Norton

Ralph E. Norton, 48, resident of the Glencoe Regional Health Care Center in Glencoe, died unexpectedly on May 31, 2005 at the Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, June 4, 2005 at Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Steve Hayden officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Sauk Centre.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre.

Ralph E. Norton was born September 13, 1956 in Paynesville, Minnesota to Dale F. and Ruby G. (Gehlhar) Norton. He grew up in Sauk Centre and graduated from Sauk Centre High School. Ralph was a talented track and cross country distance runner. He placed in the state meet and had numerous District and Regional trophies. He received a full ride athletic scholarship from North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton. He was employed by Burlington-Northern Railway and did handy work and yard work for elderly people in Sauk Centre. Ralph was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. He enjoyed cooking, hunting, fishing, camping, as well as, cutting coupons, claiming rebates and entering sweepstakes.

Survivors include his mother, Ruby Norton of Sauk Centre; brothers and sisters, Floyd Norton of Buffalo, Dave Norton of Bloomington, Karen Norton of Sierra Madre, CA, Brenda Baird of Grand Rapids, Janice Smith (Rick) of St. Cloud, Sherry Anderson of Temple Hills, MD, Lawrence Norton of Glencoe, William Norton of Sauk Centre, Ruby Toenies (Ken) of Randall, and Daniel Norton (Emily) of Rota, Spain; brother-in-law, Bob Utne of Madison, MN; and many nephews and nieces.

Ralph was preceded in death by his father, Dale Norton; sister, Joyce Utne; brother, Robert Norton; nephews, Eric Baird and Caleb Toenies; and niece, Nicolette Norton.Casket bearers will be Floyd, Dave, Lawrence, William, and Daniel Norton and Ken Toenies.Honorary bearers will be Bob Utne and Rick Smith.