Cover photo for Ralph Matter's Obituary
Ralph Matter Profile Photo
1921 Ralph 2008

Ralph Matter

March 28, 1921 — January 14, 2008

Ralph A. Matter, 86, Detroit Lakes, formerly of Callaway, Audubon and Lake Park, MN, died Monday at St. Marys Nursing Center in Detroit Lakes. Mass Of Christian Burial will be 1:00 PM Friday, January 18 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Detroit Lakes, Fr. Thomas Friedl, officiating. Interment will be in St. Marys Cemetery, Callaway, MN.



Friends may call 4:00 to 8:00 PM Thursday, January 17 at Holy Rosary Church. The Knights Of Columbus will pray the Rosary at 6:30 PM followed by a Parish Vigil Service at 7:00 all at the church. The visitation will continue one hour prior to the funeral at the church on Friday.



Ralph Alfred Matter was born March 28, 1921 at Wabasso, MN to Alfred and Ruth (Frantz) Matter. He moved with his family to rural Callaway, MN as a young boy and attended rural Callaway schools. In 1944 he began farming with his family. He served with the U. S. Army 1945 to 1946. Following his discharge, he returned to rural Callaway where he continued to farm. Ralph was united in marriage with Joyce Flynn February 14, 1952 in Callaway. They farmed and raised their family in Audubon Township, rural Audubon. They moved to Lake Ida in Cormorant Township in 1981 and to Detroit Lakes in 2000. Ralph entered St. Marys Nursing Center in Feb. 2007.



Ralph was an active member of Assumption Catholic Church in Callaway, St. Francis Xavier Church, Lake Park and Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Detroit Lakes; the Elks, Eagles, Holy Rosary Knights Of Columbus, Country Twirlers Square Dance Club and served on the boards of the Lake Park and Audubon Elevators. He enjoyed his family, farming, dancing, (especially square dancing), traveling (having visited Mexico and every state in the United States and every province in Canada), a good discussion and collecting cars, tea pots and caps.



Survivors include his wife, Joyce of Detroit Lakes; sons, Russell and his wife, Joyce of Moorhead, MN, Ralph Jr. and his wife, Mary of Thief River Falls, MN, Richard and his wife, Kelly of Coon Rapids, MN, Roland and his wife Shannon of Burnsville, MN; daughters, Kathleen and her husband, Allen Klindt of Audubon, MN, Jacqueline and her husband LeRoy Vandermay of Wadena, MN, Regina and her fiancAC.e, Kevin Hutchison of Fargo, ND, Diane and her husband Jerry Yonga of Brooklyn Park, MN, Joyce and her husband, Jon C. Stone of Detroit Lakes; 23 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; brothers, Jerome and his wife Mary of Callaway, James and his wife Betty of Callaway, Linus and his wife Marilyn of Hopkins, MN; sisters, LaVonne Jacobson of Detroit Lakes, Aileen Melis of Superior, WI and Cleo Steffl of Detroit Lakes. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Patricia and his parents.


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