Ralph Heidorn Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Ralph Heidorn, age 78, of Montevideo, Minnesota passed away Monday, June 27, 2022, at the St. Cloud Hospital. A Funeral Service will be Friday, July 1, 2022, at 11:00 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Montevideo. Interment will at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Montevideo. Visitation will be Thursday, June 30, 2022, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Wing-Bain Funeral Home in Montevideo with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Ralph Richard Heidorn of Montevideo passed away at the St. Cloud Hospital on Monday, June 27, 2022, at the age of 78. He went to his heavenly home after awaiting goodbyes from his beloved children and grandchildren. The funeral service was held Friday, July 1, with arrangements by Wing-Bain Funeral Home. Ralph was born on January 22, 1944, in Wadena, MN. He was baptized in Wadena and confirmed at Redeemer Lutheran Church in his hometown of Verndale, MN. He graduated from Verndale High School in 1962. He then attended North Dakota State University on a track scholarship where he ran the 440-yard dash and the hurdles. In September of 1964 he met Wanda Eckert of Sebeka, MN. They celebrated a December 18, 1965, wedding at Grace Lutheran Church in Sebeka, MN. They resided in Roseville, MN, for four years before Ralph returned to college at Mankato State University where he earned a degree in Industrial Arts education. Ralph and Wanda’s children, Tricia and Chad, were born in Mankato. In 1972, Ralph accepted an Industrial Arts teaching position at Central Middle School in Montevideo. He and Wanda enjoyed the community and decided to plant their family roots, building their country home in which they have lived since 1977. Ralph taught for over 40 years before retiring. In 1992 he was selected as the Montevideo Teacher of the Year and recognized by the Minnesota Education Association as a Teacher of Excellence. Many of his students fondly recall making leather wallets, drawing future home plans, and creating businesses. He taught a variety of classes including manufacturing, woodworking, leather craft, automotive technology, building construction, welding, photography, and screen printing. With the construction of the new middle school in Montevideo, he hand-built wooden workspaces to implement the new technology laboratory. Although Ralph loved the content of his teaching, his greatest joy was getting to know his students and seeing them at extra-curricular, sporting, and community events. Ralph also coached basketball, football, and track. He spent many summers building homes with his friend Bob Mills. He was an avid woodworker and created sets for the high school plays, kneeling rails for the church, and various items for his family and friends. He was a jack of all trades, exercising his creative skills on many home and repair projects. Music occupied a large role in Ralph’s life. He played the guitar, banjo, and harmonica. He sang in church as well as at funerals and weddings. He also greatly enjoyed the outdoors. He walked daily in the ravine behind his home, played with his grandchildren on the iced pond nearby, and sledded the backyard hill in the winter. He opened his own business, Chippewa Canoe and Kayak, founded on his love for canoeing, kayaking, and camping. Ralph displayed his competitive spirit paddling his handcrafted cedar-strip kayak in the Montevideo Fiesta Days Tri-Festa. Ralph especially loved spending time at their lake cabin at Belmont Pointe near Battle Lake, MN, with his wife Wanda, children, grandchildren, and friends. Ralph loved the Lord. His faith and belief in Jesus guided his life. His morning devotions inspired and energized him, and he covered his family and friends in daily prayer. His faith led him to a heart of service. Ralph served his church community at St. Paul Lutheran as elder, chairman, usher, and youth leader. He found joy in listening to and playing hymns and worship music. His faith and that of his church and friends sustained him during the trials of this life. Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Wanda; daughter Tricia (and Darrin) Foster of Marshall, MN, and children Brenna, Gracelyn, and Samuel; son Chad (and Nancy) Heidorn of Colfax, WI, and children Ally, Luke, Noah, and Molly; brother Ronald (and Maikia) Heidorn of Mariposa, CA; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Ewald and Rosena Heidorn.