Ralph Carl Wittenberg

Ralph Carl Wittenberg died at the age of 101, at his home at the Legacy Place in Valley City, ND on November 12, 2016. Ralph (1915-1925) was truly a special man to many. He was born August 21, 1915 to Robert Sr. and Anna (Schmidt) Wittenberg of Noltimer Township. He grew up on the family farm, attending Noltimier School all twelve years. He played on the school basketball team and was also the valedictorian of class 1934. He was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, Valley City, on March 24, 1924. He served on the Noltimier Township board for many years. He married Pearl Romelfanger on December 13, 1940 in Fargo, ND. The couple farmed in Noltimier Township. Pearl passed away on May 31, 1992. He continued to actively farm until 1996. Although Ralph never had any of his own children, he willingly took on a very special role to his many nieces and nephews. He always had time to play with them. He would drop everything he was doing to do whatever they wanted to do. This was only one of the many reasons he was so special to us. We have all been blessed by this kind, caring, compassionate man that we have been blessed and honored to call, “Uncle Ralph”. Ralph was a very talented woodworker. He would spend many hours in his woodshop working on various projects. He took his woodworking very seriously and always made things to the highest standard. In July of 2013, Ralph was diagnosed with West Nile and on August 21, 2013 he moved into the Legacy Place. He remained there until October when he fell and fractured his pelvis and then spent the next few months at Mercy Hospital until he moved to the Sheyenne Care Center on January 3, 2014. On May 19, 2014 he was strong enough to go back to the Legacy Place and was very happy to be back home. He remained there until his death. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Valley City. Ralph is survived by his brother, Robert Wittenberg, Valley City; a sister, Esther Connely of Toledo, Washington; a sister-in-law, Gloria Wittenberg (Albert), Valley City; many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, five great-great nieces and one great-great nephew. The funeral service for Ralph will be 10:30 am Friday, November 18, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Valley City. Burial will be in Memory Gardens, Valley City. A prayer service will be held 7 pm Thursday at the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel. An online guestbook is available at www.oliver-nathanchapel.com.

Ralph Carl Wittenberg

August 21, 1915 - November 12, 2016