Ralph J. Thurlow, 89, of Rapid City and formerly of Midland, died Friday, Sept. 18 at Kalkaska Memorial Health Care Center.
Ralph was born March 13, 1920 to Hugh and Lula (Turner) Thurlow of Freeland.
He graduated from Midland High School and attended Michigan State University. He is a World War II veteran having served from 1941 through 1945.
As a young boy Ralph started working for his uncle as a beekeeper. After returning from the service he continued this line of work. Later he developed his own beekeeping business until poor health made it necessary to sell the business.
He then worked for several years for the State of Michigan in the Department of Agriculture as a bee inspector. He retired from this profession in 1980.
In 1951 Ralph married Shirley Way of Rapid City. Upon retirement they moved to Rapid City where they spent the summers, and wintered in Wickenburg, Ariz.
While in Arizona Ralph was an active volunteer for the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, a member of the Masonic Lodge of Peoria, Ariz., and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wickenburg.
Ralph served both as a deacon and elder in the church at Wickenburg. In recent years he was a member of The Presbyterian Church of Traverse City.
During the years he lived in Midland he was a member of Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Ralph is survived by his wife of 58 years Shirley; his sister Lila Robinson of Midland; sisters-in-law Marie Thurlow and Mitchelene Thurlow of Midland, Dorothy Carroll of Wickenburg, Ariz., and Phyllis (Bruce) Cotanche of Walloon Lake; and brother-in-law Ed (Betty) Carroll of Ohio.
Other family members who survive are Carol (Earl) Hefner, Dan and Dena Way of Missouri, and Ron and Belinda Way of Rapid City, many devoted nieces and nephews, and special friends and caregivers.
Ralph is predeceased by his parents; brothers Frank, Arthur, Gerald and Gordon; and sisters Della Walburn, Thelma Weisenbaugh, and Marie Warner.
Funeral services for Mr. Thurlow were conducted Tuesday (Sept. 22) at the Wilson Miller Funeral Home, 4210 N. Saginaw Rd., Midland with the Reverend Becky Chamberlain officiating. Interment was in Midland Memorial Gardens Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Midland Area Veterans and the U.S. Army Honors Guard.
A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 24) at the Peoples Church of Kalkaska, Mich. Memorials may be offered to the Eden Center, First Presbyterian Church of Wickenburg, Ariz., The Presbyterian Church of Traverse City, or The Peoples Church of Kalkaska. Personal messages of support may be left for the family at www.wilson-miller.com
