Rye, Ralph Jay of Oliver, Wisconsin and South Mpls died unexpectedly Dec 14, 2012

Ralph was born Jan 15, 1948 to Marvin and Ardys (Erdal) Rye. Ralph was a graduate of Alden MN HS, U of MN Mpls, served in Peace Corps Ghana, taught school in Hurstbridge, Australia. After retiring from Excel Energy, Ralph enjoyed his second home in Oliver, WI, road trips, family and volunteering. He will be deeply missed. Ralph is survived by wife, Mary Lovick Rye; daughters, Hannah (Chris) Wilkowske, Moab, UT; Ellen (Rafael) Echenique, Crystal, MN; Rachel (Jason) Dahl, Wakefield, RI; and grandchildren, Magdalena, Ingeborg, Franco, Joaquin, and Juan Luis, Kezia, Beatrix; sister Amelia Nossum; brother Marty (Kathy) Rye; Aunts Eunice Strand, Miriam Scott, Sherry Rye; Uncles Donald (Annette) Rye, Pastor Norris Erdal; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Tribute from Jana Metge: Ralph Rye, long time Phillips activist sadly has passed away. Ralph died this past weekend. His funeral will be at St. Paul”'s Lutheran on 28th Street and 15th Ave. So. this Friday, Dec. 21st at 11:00 a.m.

Ralph helped me to form the Phillips Block Club Network in 2002. This Network was in and around 28th Street with a mission to enhance safety and reduce crime. We received a City Award from the Minneapolis Police Department in 2002 for multi-jurisdictional collaborations which led to innovative solutions to crime. As you enter St. Paul”'s, you can see our Award signage on a street pole in front of the church.

Ralph was also very important to politics of our little precinct (28th to Lake Street) from the Sears site to the Cemetery. He was always recruiting folks to the caucas, training new folks in, always volunteering his time and always helping out.

He was such a great positive force on our Avenue. You could always find him working in the church yard, taking care of the facility and of the gardens. He was just always there. Always spreading good will and help to neighbors, anytime he could.

I will miss him very, very much. Please join me in sending prayers and sympathies to his wife Mary, sister in law Jan Lovick, and his family. If you can make the funeral, as a neighbor, know that Ralph was crucial in the neighborhood stability we now all feel and experience day to day.

Sincerely and with a heavy and sad heart, Jana Metge, Midtown Resident

Funeral services were Dec 21st at St. Paul”'s Lutheran Church, 2742 15th Ave S, Mpls, Internment was at Brush Point Cemetery, Fertile, IA. Memorials may be directed to E-quip Africa or St Paul”'s Church boiler fund.

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