Ralph Robert Burt, 88

Ralph Robert Burt, 88, passed away on Friday, Sept. 23, 2005, in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005, at Coffelt's Moon Chapel with Pastor Steve Nickodemus from Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church officiating.

Interment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors provided by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2453 of Sandpoint.

Ralph was born on March 22, 1917, in Steele, N.D., the son of Forbes and Hulda (Fischer) Burt. He moved to Revillo, S.D., at a young age where he grew up and attended schools.

In 1938, Ralph joined the Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Sturgis, S.D., later enlisting with the U.S. Army in the last Horse Calvary Division. In 1941, it became a mechanized unit where he drove tanks. He served overseas in the European Theater for five years and saw action at the Battle of the Bulge.

Ralph met the love of his life, Evelyn Ridley, in Seattle, Wash., and they were united in marriage on Aug. 16, 1947, in her hometown of Sandpoint.

Ralph returned to Seattle with his new bride and worked for Civil Service as a fork lift operator at a cold storage warehouse on the docks for more than 30 years. In 1973, he moved to Sandpoint where he worked for Pack River Lumber Company, retiring six years later.

Ralph enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, cars and metal detecting. He was also a member of the Eagles Lodge Aerie No. 589 and the VFW Post 2453 in Sandpoint.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 58 years, Evelyn of Sandpoint; a daughter and son-in-law, Sable and John Neece of Sandpoint; a son and daughter-in-law, Robbie and Yvonne Burt of Spokane, Wash.; two grandchildren, Andrea Neece and Austin Burt; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Stan Burt.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.