Ralph Miles Wood

Ralph Miles Wood passed away peacefully at his residence at Maple View North in Bismarck, ND, on February 11, 2015, with family by his side. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Tuesday, February 17, at Church of Corpus Christi, Bismarck, with Rev. Paul Becker officiating. Burial will be held at 1:00 pm Tuesday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm Monday, February 16, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a vigil service will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Ralph was born to George Arthur Wood and Myrtice Taylor on his family's farm near Fordville, ND on May 3, 1922. His siblings included brothers Arnold Wood and Lee Wood, and sister Viola Johnson. After graduating from high school in Fordville in 1940, Ralph enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He attended recruit training and Sea School RDMCB in San Diego, CA in 1940. He served aboard the MD USS Colorado in the Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor from 1940-1942; at the Marine Barracks in Pearl Harbor from 1942-1943; at the Recruit Depot, MCB San Diego as Drill Instructor from 1943-1945; on the MD USS Midway with the Atlantic Fleet in Norfolk, VA from 1945-1947; and at the Marine Barracks in Portsmouth, VA in 1947. Ralph was released from active duty with the USMC in June 1947 and assigned to the US Marine Corps Reserve from 1947-1950. Ralph met his wife, Geraldine Elaine Giesregen in Washington, DC in June of 1946. They were married in Portsmouth, VA on Oct. 12, 1946. In 1947 they moved to Grand Forks, ND, where Ralph became a city policeman. Ralph joined the ND Highway patrol in 1948, working as a patrol officer in the Grand Forks district. In 1950 he joined the North Dakota Army National Guard, and was assigned to M Company 164th Infantry Regiment in Grand Forks. When the Korean War began, Ralph left Grand Forks with his wife Elaine and their first child, Kathleen born in 1950, to serve in active duty with the USAR M Company 164th and 47th Infantry Division in Camp Rucker, Alabama a second child, Nancy, was born in 1951, with John, Susan and Lynn arriving in 1958, 1959 and 1964, respectively. Ralph was released from the US Army in 1952, and began serving with the ND Army National Guard, assigned to F Co. 164th Infantry Regiment. Over the next 20 years, Ralph served as company commander, HQ Co. 164th Inf.; as battalion and regiment staff officer; as battalion commander Engr. and as group commander Engr.. He retired from the NDARNG as a full Colonel in 1972. Upon his return to North Dakota from Alabama in 1952, Ralph resumed work as a ND Highway Patrolman. He was appointed to serve as Deputy Superintendent of the NDHP in 1953. He continued to work in this capacity until 1959, when he left the Patrol to become a training officer with the ND Army National Guard. In 1961 he was appointed by Governor William Guy to be the ND Highway Patrol Superintendent. His work as Superintendent continued until his retirement in 1978, and he has the distinction of being the longest serving Superintendent in the history of the ND Highway Patrol 17 years. Under his leadership, the 1969 ND Legislative Session authorized the construction of a Law Enforcement Training Academy in Bismarck, ND. The Academy, which offers instruction to all law enforcement agencies in North Dakota, was completed in 1970. The "Ralph Wood" addition was opened in 1997, adding classrooms, office space and dorm rooms. In Sept. of 1963, Ralph was also given the honor of guarding President John F. Kennedy during the president's visit to the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Ralph set a very high standard in his professional as well as in his personal life. He was a life-long "learner" and advocate for higher education. Throughout his distinguished career, he led by example, attending several military and civilian schools. These included the Sea School in San Diego, CA 1940; the Associate Company Officer's course at Ft. Benning 1951; the Associate Career Officer's Course at Fort Belvoir 1959; the Command and General Staff Officer's Course at Fort Leavenworth 1970; the Traffic Institute at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL 1955 and the FBI Academy in Washington, DC in 1960. While working full time with the ND Highway Patrol, Ralph also managed to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Mary College in Bismarck, ND in 1974, and a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND in 1977. Upon his retirement from the Highway Patrol in 1978, Ralph was "recruited" by UND President Tom Clifford, and became the UND Director of Criminal Justice Studies, a position he held until 1985. Ralph Wood was the recipient of numerous awards throughout his career. These include the American Theater Ribbon; the Pacific Theater Ribbon; the American Defense Ribbon; the USMC GCM; the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal; the AFRM; the NDARNG Service Medal; the ND MSM; and the ND Highway Patrol Meritorious Service Medal. Following his retirement, Ralph and his wife Elaine enjoyed traveling and spending winters in Arizona and in Alabama. Ralph was an avid golfer, and played often with his wife and with his friends in Grand Forks. Ralph enjoyed having coffee with his military and university friends and neighbors at Darcy's Café in Grand Forks. He particularly looked forward to riding in parades with fellow marines, sitting in the front seat of the Marine jeep owned by his good friend, Patrick Maddock from Grand Forks. Forever a "country boy" at heart, Ralph enjoyed taking drives in the country, particularly in the Red River Valley, watching the crops grow and marveling at the wide open spaces of the state that he so loved. Despite his recent health problems, Ralph was never heard to complain. He was devoted to his family, and up until the end he continued to offer guidance, praise and encouragement. He will forever leave a void in the hearts of all of those whose lives he touched. Semper Fidelis, Colonel! Ralph is survived by his children, Kathy Wood, Sisseton, SD; Nancy Ted Uecker, Hettinger, ND; John Julie Wood, Idaho Falls, ID; Susan Carter Lindquist, Hettinger, ND; and Lynn Tyrone Turner, Bismarck, ND; by his grandchildren Laurie Goossens, David Danielle Goossens, Katie Roberto Bonilla Goossens, Heidi Joe Schmidt, Mathew Larson, Teddi Jean Wood, Lukas Turner and Colton Turner; by his great-grandchildren, Michael Bonilla, Keira Marie Goossens and Abigail Elaine Goossens; by one brother, Lee Wood, Bismarck, ND, and by nieces Elva Hixson and Mavis Dan Owen; and nephews Raymond Ardie Johnson, Paul Johnson, Kenneth Wood and Terry Sally Wood. Ralph was preceded in death by his wife, Geraldine Elaine Wood; by his brother, Arnold Wood; and by his sister, Viola Johnson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, 1825 46th St, Mandan, ND, 58554.

Ralph Miles Wood

May 3, 1922 - February 11, 2015