Ralph R. Brown Jr., 69, Ray, formerly of Berthold, died Friday, May 19, 2017 in a Minot hospital.

Ralph was born on December 5, 1947 in Minot to Ralph Sr. and Marlayne (Porter) Brown. He was raised and educated in Berthold, graduating from Berthold High school in 1967.

During his younger years, Ralph assisted his father with the operation of Browns Service in Berthold. He was united in marriage to Marlene Hornberger on September 21, 1968. They made Berthold their home until 1980, when they moved to Ray. He owned and operated Ralph\'s Standard Station from 1980 to 1990. He had also worked at Gratech of Berthold for a number of years.

If you knew Ralph in his younger years, you know that he was an amazing basketball player that was always in foul trouble, loved to drive fast, have fun and in get into a little trouble. He started dating Marlene when he was 15 and they have been together ever since. A total of 53 years, with 48 of them married. If you knew Ralph, that makes Marlene a saint.

If you knew Ralph, you know he loved to hunt and fish. He could see better without binoculars than he could with. He also had a weak stomach. So, whoever he was hunting with had to clean it for him.

If you knew Ralph, you know that he has been a salesman his entire life and it was one his greatest passions. He loved to travel the country side and look for deals. His favorite part was wheeling and dealing and selling his latest purchase to somebody else. If anybody ever needed help finding that one hard to find item, they knew who to call and Ralph would find it for you.

If you knew Ralph in his later years, you know that speed was no longer his need. He loved to drive around with his friends and they never went anywhere too fast. He could be found driving around Ray in his "newest, good deal" of a vehicle.

Ralph\'s greatest pride and joy was his grandkids. He made sure that he was the one to buy them their first bike, first gun and first car. He also drove what he called "my school bus route". Every morning he picked up his grandkids before school and any kid that needed a ride along the way that day. He was really looking forward to driving the triplets to kindergarten next year.

His loving family includes: his wife of 48 years Marlene, Ray; daughter, Mindi (Jordan) Brown, Berthold; son, Marty (Kristine) Brown, Ray; ten grandchildren, McKenzi, Dalton, Dawson, Dylan, Kamryn, Kutter, Kash, Kolter, Kase and Layni; siblings, Barb (Paul) Zuther, Harvey, Maylynn (Knute) Asmundson, Granville, ND, Eugene (Pat) Brown, Ross, ND, Dan Brown, Seattle, WA, Pat Olson, Palermo, ND, Diane (Rick) Odegard, Grand Forks, ND, Susan (Tim) Thoreson, Williston, ND and Timothy (Robin Smith) Brown, Powers Lake, ND; along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, infant son, Lynn and brothers, Michael and William.

Graveside Service : Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at Wildrose Cemetery, Berthold.
Visitation: Wednesday, May 24, 2017 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.