Ralph Tholl

Ralph Henry Tholl died Feb. 15, 2010, at the age of 87 at his rural Motley home in May Township of Cass County. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 A.M. Saturday at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Motley. Internment will immediately follow the service at the Motley Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Staples. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church.

Ralph was born April 16, 1922 to John and Katherine (Loesch) Tholl in rural Cold Spring. He grew up on farms in Luxemburg Township in Stearns Co., Fawn Lake Township in Todd County and on the Tholl family farm, located north of Motley in Becker and May townships. He attended country school.

He was united in marriage to Audrey Juliette Olson on Nov. 6, 1948 at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Motley. Following their marriage, they lived in Staples and later moved to the Tholl family farm north of Motley. In 1959, Ralph and Audrey purchased and moved to their present farm in May Township.

Ralph enjoyed working on the farm throughout his lifetime, where he raised cattle, hogs, dairy cows and crop farmed. He began his work career with Northern Pacific Railroad in 1948, where he worked in the round house, on the tie gang, and on the section crew. He completed his 34-year railroad career working in the Staples Depot for Burlington Northern. He retired from the railroad in 1982. Although there was not much time for anything but work, Ralph enjoyed fishing for sunfish at Lake Shamineau and Fishtrap Lake. He also enjoyed deer hunting through the years.

Ralph is survived by Audrey, his wife of 61 years; two sons, Michael (Kathy) Tholl of Canyon Lake, Calif., and Steve (Emily) Tholl of Motley; and two daughters, Katherine (Ray) Peterson of St. Michael and Susan (Craig) Bartels of rural Staples; nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was grateful for sharing his life with his in-laws, Evelyn Tholl of Motley, Lillian Duda of Pine City and Arnold (LaQuita) Olson of Brookings, S.D., and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Marcella Schmidt; four brothers, Vincent, Markus, Norbert and Arthur; and one grandson, Elliot Magilke.