Ralph Nordstrom

Mass of Christian Burial for Ralph Nordstrom, age 92, of Terril and Milford and formerly of Sioux Valley, Minnesota, will be held 10:30 am, Saturday, February 18, 2017, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Visitation will begin at 9 am Saturday until the service time at the church. Ralph Nordstrom was born on July 5, 1924 to Alfred and Josephine (Forde) Nordstrom at Miller Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Ralph lived in St. Paul until he was twelve years old at which time the family moved to Balsam Lake, Wisconsin. The family owned and operated the Paradise Lodge. Ralph worked as a fishing guide at the lodge during his high school years. After high school, Ralph used a scholarship at River Falls University that he had earned in high school for being the class valedictorian and class president for four years. After his first semester, Ralph was drafted in the Army Air Corps. He trained and served as a radio man - one of his posts being at the air base on the conquered Island of Tinian. While he was there, Tinian served as the departure point for the American bombers that delivered the atomic bomb to Japan. Ralph was haunted by the deaths caused, but was gleeful to come home to his family in Wisconsin. After the war Ralph studied Forestry at the University of Minnesota and went on to earn a Master's Degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In November of 1954, Ralph married Helen Marie Murphy of Lakefield, Minnesota. They lived in rural Sioux Valley, MN until Helen's death. Ralph always had an extended family around him and when he married Sally Fairchild on June 19, 2004, he went from having no children of his own to being part of an active and large family. He took on the role of grandfather to some, counselor and friend to others. His transition from godfather and husband of Sally's cousin to stepfather to her children was seamless and he and Sally shared many good years. They lived in the "Red House" in Terril, IA until they moved to the assisted living facility in Milford. They enjoyed the theater, family, and each other's company. Ralph retired at age 57 from the EPA where he worked for 10 years in Chicago and commuted to rural Sioux Valley, MN. Ralph was a Master Gardener, a member of the International Lilac Society, and also served in local government. The opening lines of the "Living Land Remembers" by Wisconsin author Ben Logan epitomizes Ralph's approach to life and the land. "Once you have lived on the land, been a partner with its moods, secrets, and seasons, you cannot leave. The living land remembers, touching you in unguarded moments, saying 'I am here. You are part of me.'" Ralph was preceded in death by his first wife Helen, his only brother Edward, and his parents. He is survived by his wife Sally Fairchild Nordstrom, nephews Keith and Kenneth Nordstrom, stepchildren Riley (Teri) Fairchild, Tim (Julie) Fairchild, Dana (Theresa) Fairchild, Ralph (Jean) Fairchild, Anne (Brian) Sexe, and Forde (Kathryn) Fairchild, 16 step grandchildren, and 6 great step grandchildren.