Ralph Wolff, age 84, of Terry passed away April 21, 2018 at Tender Nest Care in Billings, MT.
Ralph was a Christmas baby, born on December 25, 1933 to Christian and Christina (Rath) Wolff on the family farm north of Terry at Watkins, MT.
Lefty’s early childhood memories included riding horses bareback, killing rattlesnakes, attending country school and a teacher feeding them squash at lunch which was always tossed conveniently out an open window, and teasing from his older brothers.
He attended 6 years of country school and then 6 years of schooling in Terry. After graduation Ralph entered the U.S. Army and served his country for 2 years.
After being honorably discharged from the army he went back to Terry where Ralph and Ann Hoagland were married on September 11, 1957. Ralph went to work in the oil fields as a roughneck in Glendive and Baker. In 1970, he and his family moved back to Terry where he worked as a well driller for Joe Johnson and then on his own for several years. He also worked for Terry Public Schools as a maintenance man and retired in 2010.
Ralph enjoyed spending time with his family, watching Cleveland Indians baseball games, Green Bay Packers football games and rodeos. He also enjoyed reading, doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles and going to coffee hour. He was a quiet man but did have a quick-witted sense of humor.
Ralph is preceded in death by his wife, Ann in 2004; brothers, Clarence Wolff, Robert Wolff and Aldo Wolff; sisters, Altina Wolff, Anna Young, Laura Wells, Florence Zwicker, Marian Schleinger and two sister-in-laws Joan Wolff and Anna Wolff.
He is survived by his children Tana Ban and her husband, Brian, of Billings, Kelly Wolff and his wife, Jody of Billings and Angie Strobel and her husband, Greg, of Temperance, MI; five grandchildren, Nick and Stacey Ban, Zeth and Tawni Ban, Rachelle and Kevin Karnchanaphati, Stacey and Kevin Laderach, and Sean Wolff; eight great-grandchildren Madilyn Ban, Ethan Ban, Kirra, Keely, Zade, Zaxx and Kayza Ban and Karson Karnchanaphati; one sister, Palma Chambers of Denver, CO and two brothers, Leonard Wolff of Miles City and Harold Wolff and his wife Cecilia of Arvada, CO; and numerous nieces and nephews.
If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Terry. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Terry. Internment with full military honors will follow in the family plot of the Prairie County Cemetery.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday April 24, 2018
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
300 Spring Street
Terry, Montana 59349
Funeral Service
2:00 p.m.
Wednesday April 25, 2018
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
300 Spring Street
Terry , Montana 59349
Interment with Full Military Honors
Following the Funeral Service.
Wednesday April 25, 2018
Prairie County Cemetery
Cemetery Rd.
Terry, Montana 59349
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday April 24, 2018
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
300 Spring Street
Terry, Montana 59349
Funeral Service
2:00 p.m.
Wednesday April 25, 2018
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
300 Spring Street
Terry , Montana 59349
Interment with Full Military Honors
Following the Funeral Service.
Wednesday April 25, 2018
Prairie County Cemetery
Cemetery Rd.
Terry, Montana 59349
Share
Cheryl Stevenson says
So sorry for your loss an prayers to all.
Lynette Scott says
Sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. It is difficult to lose a parent, but there is comfort knowing he are now at rest in his heavenly home. My Dad truly enjoyed working with your Dad. Your a Dad the quiet one and my Dad the vocal one, they would have been a good team. God bless you all. Peace and blessings to you.
Love, hugs, and prayers,
Randy and Lynette
Jim & Marj Anderson says
Lefty was one gentle sole. He was always ready with a friendly hello and a smile. Sorry for your loss.
Cathy Kalmback says
I am so sorry to hear of Lefty’s passing. I thoroughly enjoyed working with him at the school. He was a very dedicated and hard worker. I especially enjoyed is dry sense of humor. You are all in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
andy pehl says
I am still missing Lefty from all the sports he missed this tough winter for him. I knew he moved to Billings and I thank both Brian and Tana and family and Kelly for taking him under their close wing. He loved his sports and all the kids that enjoyed that big green lawn and football field. Coaches put together teams but Lefty put together all things underfoot that let the kids really have fun. He moved all that pipe on some pretty hot days! And fixed the Grandey pipe freezeup on some pretty cold weekends! The school was totally privileged! So was all of Terry. Take care Wolf family and look even more forward to the sure Resurrection!! Andy Pehl and all the Pehls
Delphine Coon says
So sorry to hear of Lefty’s passing. He always had a friendly hello for me when I would see him in Terry. He was a very hard worker, knew what to do and did it. Terry Schools were lucky to have him. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult time. Delphine Coon
Lynn Anderson says
Tana, Angie and Family,
I am sorry to learn of your Dad’s passing. Please know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless!
Tom Fleming says
Lefty was a very nice man enjoyed visiting with him when I saw him prayers out to the family and friend he will be missed
Marty Keltner says
A wonderful man who was always smiling, a genuinely selfless man.
Barb Hinnaland says
Tana, Kelly, Angie and families, I am so sorry for your loss. Your dad was such a nice man. I got to visit with him a bit this summer when he was at the Cenex having coffee with his friends. I asked about you all and he beamed with pride as he talked about his kids. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Elmer and Avis Spidel says
Sorry to hear of your Dads passing, may the Lord wrap his arms around the family and soothe the sorrow of losing Him and know that he is with Christ his Savior.
Linda Koehler says
Words convey so little when hearts feel so much… May special memories help you all during the difficult days ahead.
Dean & Sue Ashley says
We always enjoyed talking to Lefty when we would go over and visit Lefty and Ann. Lefty was a very dedicated worker to the school and everything was always kept in good shape. Our girls loved visiting when Ann and Lefty gave them treats and fun times. They were part of our extended family!!! He loved talking sports with Dean about his grandkids’ sports activities and all the news of Terry. Sara and Mary remember how well he kept the yard groomed and watered and all of Ann’s flowers. May God”s light shine upon him and all of you: his wonderful family. We would love to be there for you all; we live in Gt. Falls now. Love ya!!
Pete Stanton says
My condolences to the family of Lefty. We worked together at the school in Terry. He was so dedicated and did so many things for the schools. We had many good times visiting on sports and I always loved his sense of humor. A life well lived.
Lissa Power says
Tana, Angie, Kelly and families. Sorry for the loss of your Dad. Thinking of all of you and hoping your memories of him bring you comfort.
Jodi Chambers says
Mom and I were just rereading Uncle Lefty’s obituary. She laughed at the part regarding “quiet man but with a quick wit”. She said he most certainly did have! Always hard to lose a parent or sibling, but we know you are all comforted by the fact that he is no longer suffering and is able to be with Ann and the rest of the family at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love, Palma and Jodi
Kendra Liles Morse says
So sorry to hear of your dads passing, he will be missed by many. Hoping your family finds strength to deal with the loss.