Ralph Berninger

Funeral Service: Monday April 19th at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

Graveside Service: will follow at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Ft. Harrison Montana

Ralph Berninger, age 81 of East Helena died Sunday April 11, 2010. Ralph was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 5th, 1928 the son of Fred and Anna Berninger.

Ralph served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946. At that time he was a bow maker. In the 1950s he moved to Montana to work as a ranch hand and cowboy for many Montana ranches including the N Bar Ranch in Lewistown and Ed Grady of Canyon Creek. He moved back to Wisconsin and worked for Fred Olson Motors as an auto mechanic until 1975 when he returned to Montana. Ralph married Mary Gegenhuber on October 14, 1975 and later was divorced July 2, 2009. Ralph had a lifelong love for fishing, hunting, dealing with guns and antiques. He was always in search of that next great deal. He loved to laugh and always had a joke to share with you.

He is survived by his ex-wife Mary Gegenhuber of Helena; his children from a previous marriage, Lisa O'Donnall of Lutz, Florida, Pam Mattley of Tampa, Florida and Kim Dean of Port Charlotte, Florida; a brother Harry Berninger of Milwaukee, Wi; his sister-in-law Mary Berninger of Milwaukee, WI; several grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Ralphs special friends were Bruce and Susan Held, Courtney Schorzman, and Brittni Wensel, and the love of his life was his faithful canine companion TJ.

Ralph was
preceeded in death by his brothers Melvin Berninger, Floyd "Bud" Berninger, Frederick "Fritz" Berninger; sisters in law Irma Berninger and Olive Berninger; nephew Richard Berninger; niece Eileen Berninger and twin sister Betty who died as an infant.

Memorials may be made to the Lewis and Clark Humane Society, PO Box 4455, Helena, MT 59604-4455 or the Fort Harrison VA Cemetery, PO Box 5715, Helena, MT 59604-5715.

Family will begin to receive friends from Sunday, April 18th from 4 6 p.m., Sunday, April 18 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Chapel. Services will be held Monday April 19th at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Ft. Harrison Montana.