MILLS, Ralph Robert 1902-2007

MILLS BURGESS NORTHRUP

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson (email)
Date: 8/23/2007 at 23:50:24

Ralph Robert Mills, 105, of the Good Samaritan Center, St. Ansgar, Iowa, and formerly of Marion, died Friday, August 17, 2007, following a short illness. A memorial service for Ralph was held at the Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, Iowa, on Saturday, August 25, 2007. Burial was at Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion.

Ralph was born on January 2, 1902, to Dr. Ernest and Anna (Burgess) Mills in LeGrand, Iowa. His growing up years were spent in LeGrand with eight siblings. Upon graduation from LeGrand High School in 1920, he spent the summer at his Aunt Nellie's ranch in Idaho working as a cowhand. That fall, he enrolled in Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

There he met his sweetheart and future wife, Ruth Northrup. In 1924, he graduated from college with a degree in economics intending to teach. He landed his first job with a survey crew for the Iowa Highway Department. Before long, he had his civil engineering certificate. With steady work, he and Ruth were married in Grinnell, Iowa, in 1926. With the Highway Department, the Mills moved frequently, going from Grinnell, to Des Moines, to Ames, and then to Adel, Iowa.

A daughter, Rosamond Joy, came along in 1930. Through her growing up years, they lived in Adel. With World War II, money for highways dried up. Ralph then enlisted in the Navy doing engineering work in the United States. The ending of the war brought a couple of years working on the Alaskan Highway. With the completion of that job, he found work with the Milwaukee Railroad. That job moved to Marion, Iowa, and with Rose in college, Ralph and Ruth moved to Marion in 1950. Shortly afterwards, Ralph became the City Engineer for Marion while Ruth was librarian at the Carnegie Library there. Ralph was active with Kiwanis and the Masonic Lodge, #6, AF & AM.

Ruth passed away in 1993. Ralph became an enthusiastic member of the Cedar Rapids Widow & Widowers group. He also made many friends walking in Lindale Mall. He eventually moved to Garnett Place in Cedar Rapids. In 2005, needing more assistance, he moved into the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar, Iowa. There he developed a reputation as a cribbage player, playing in local tournaments until laid up with a broken hip and collar bone in June, 2007.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, daughter, Rose, and seven out of eight siblings. He is survived by his son-in-law, Byron R. Ross of Iowa City, Iowa. He has three grandsons, Kelly (Glenda) Ross of Osage, Iowa, Scott (Roberta) Ross of Monument, Colorado, and Mitchell (Gina) Ross of Pasadena, Maryland. There are eight great-grandchildren; Benjamin, Elisabeth, Rebecca, Kaleb, Jaqueline, Adam, Marcus, and Michael who will miss him.

Please sign the online guest book for Ralph at www.murdochfuneralhome.come under obituaries.