Final Salute

February 18, 1936 – May 22, 2023

Nipomo – Ralph M. Miner, 87, was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota on February 18, 1936. He passed away from a short battle with cancer on May 22, 2023 at home surrounded by family. Ralph was the oldest child of Ralph G. Miner and Doris Bonita (Bea) Marquette. When he was 4, his family moved back to the Miner family farm in St. Peter, Minnesota. He attended a one room school house one mile from the farm through the 8th grade. He graduated from St. Peter High School in 1954 and joined the US Navy immediately following graduation.

Ralph was in the construction battalion “SeaBees” from 1954-1958 when he was honorably discharged. He served in Kodiak and Adak Alaska, the Philippines, Kwajalein Atoll Island and Port Hueneme, CA. While stationed near Ventura, CA Ralph went on a blind date and met Carolyn Hulse of Santa Barbara, CA. They were married 10 months later on November 15, 1957. Ralph and Carolyn had three children, Scot (Julie) Miner, Lynn (Dave) Toth, and Trudy (Rick) Vidal.

After discharge from the Navy, Ralph and Carolyn returned to the family farm in Minnesota where Ralph farmed until 1962 and attended college at night. In 1962 the family returned to California and settled in Santa Maria where Ralph worked as a union carpenter. One of his early construction accomplishments was building the Santa Maria airport terminal in 1970. He was the site superintendent while employed by Collins and Fletcher of Lompoc. Soon after the airport was completed, Ralph put his contractor’s license to work building custom homes. In 1973 he built his family a new home on the river bluff of Nipomo, CA where he and Carolyn lived for the next 50 years.

In 1985 Ralph obtained his state inspector’s license and spent the next 20 years as a site inspector for construction projects on many schools in both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. His final large job was the site inspector on the new Nipomo High School when he retired soon after at the age of 70. Ralph enjoyed his retirement years traveling around the country visiting family and friends, working on wood projects in his shop and restoring classic cars including a ’39 Chevrolet cab over truck purchased brand new by his father. He was a life long member of the Lutheran Church and attended regularly with Carolyn. Ralph was a person who was loved by all who met him.

Ralph is survived by Carolyn, his wife of 65 years, his three children, four grandchildren (Lance Vidal, Clarissa Duer, Brittany Kennedy, and Cassie Miner), three great grandchildren (Andrew and Brooklyn Duer, and Hank Kennedy). He was proceeded in death by his parents and sister Judy Hanson. Ralph is also survived by his sister Jan Netz, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and honorary children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A memorial service for Ralph will be officiated by friend and retired pastor Randall Ouimette on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 2:00pm at Bethel Lutheran Church, 624 E. Camino Colegio, Santa Maria, CA. Donations may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church.
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Published by Santa Maria Times on May 31, 2023.