Ralph William Boldenow, 72, of Rosemount, MN and formerly of Leeds, ND passed away unexpectedly, Sunday January 15, 2023 at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30AM Saturday, January 28, 2023 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Esmond, ND with Fr. Steven Wirth celebrating.  Visitation will take place Friday, January 27, 2023 at St. Boniface Catholic Church from 5:00PM to 7:00PM with Rosary beginning at 7:00PM and Vigil Service to follow. Visitation will continue one hour before the service at the church.   Burial will be at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery at a later date.

Ralph William Boldenow was born June 28, 1950 in Rugby, ND, the fifth of seven children of the late Alta Marlenee Boldenow Hett and William Boldenow.  He grew up and lived in Leeds until graduating with the class of 1968.  Two days after graduation, Ralph started his career with North Central Airlines, stationed at Chicago, IL.  He worked at various locations including Cleveland, OH; Grand Forks, ND; Devils Lake, ND and Minneapolis, MN.  He worked as an Equipment Service Agent.

Ralph married Bonnie Jo Rieger from Esmond, ND on March 2, 1975 in Las Vegas, NV.  On September 11, 1982, their marriage was blessed at St. Williams Catholic Church in Argusville, ND.  Ralph and Bonnie made their home in Apple Valley, MN.  Melissa Kay was born in 1977 in Minneapolis, MN.  In 1978, Ralph took a job transfer to Fargo, ND.  Ralph continued working for the airlines which later became Republic Airlines and then Northwest Airlines.  In North Dakota, they made their home in Argusville for 15 years and raised their family there. Sons, William Lee (Bill) was born in 1980, Rodney James, 1983 and Randy, 1985.  In 1993, they moved to Fargo, ND for a year.

After several back injuries from work, Ralph transferred to Minneapolis in 1994. He loved his new job working in reclamation, sorting and cleaning airplane engine parts for the mechanics. Ralph and family made their home in Rosemount and have been living there since the move in 1994.  In 2006, Ralph retired from Northwest Airlines on his 55 ^th birthday after working 38 years for the airlines.

Being an airline family, the family enjoyed many airplane trips in the US and Europe over the years.  While living in North Dakota, Ralph and the boys enjoyed fishing, hunting birds and game, especially deer, with their fun hunting party.  Some of his enjoyments were being a Volunteer Firefighter in Argusville, ND, watching and reading westerns, woodworking, coaching and 4H, along with other activities with his family. His grandchildren were the joy of his life.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Bonnie, Rosemount, MN; his children, Melissa Boldenow, Burnsville, MN, William 'Bill' (Katie) Boldenow, Lakeville, MN, Rodney (Kimberly) Boldenow, Lakeville, MN and Randy Boldenow, Rosemount, MN; grandchildren, MacKenzie Terhark, Alec and Averie Boldenow, Willow Hunter, Ethan and Ryleigh Boldenow, Jackson and Josh Boldenow; siblings, Vernon (Judy) Lund, Big Stone City, SD, Sharon Vetter, Grand Forks, ND, Shirley (Gayle) Hovdness, Devils Lake, ND, Glenn (Jane) Boldenow, Denver, CO, Margie Boldenow, Fargo, ND and Jeff Hett, Fargo, ND; in-law's,  Michael (Jocelyn) Rieger, Bennington, NE, Terry (Susan) Rieger, Grand Forks, ND, Kenny (Judy) Rieger, Harvey, ND, Mark (Roxann) Rieger, Bismarck, ND, Marilyn (Rusty) Ouart, Fargo, ND, Marvilyn (Gary) Roerick, Harvey, ND and Darla (Scott) Willoughby, Fargo, ND.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Alta (Marlenee Boldenow) Hett; grandparents, Herman and Minnie Boldenow, William and Maude Marlenee; father and mother-in-law, Leo Roy and Irene Rieger; grandparents, Mike & Cecelia "Tillie" Lauinger and Francis Rieger; brothers-in-law, Herman Vetter and James Rieger.