Obituary of Ralph Cook

Ralph William Cook, age 85, passed away on February 21, 2024, surrounded by loved ones at his home in Ridgewood Villa in Glenwood, MN. Ralph was born in a farmhouse southwest of Alberta, MN to Paul and Kathryn Cook on February 27, 1938. He attended school in Alberta and then District 60, graduating from Morris High School in 1956. He then attended St. Cloud State College (now University), graduating with a BA degree in December 1959.

Ralph married his high school prom date, Barbara Lawson, on May 14, 1960 in Morris, MN. They had three children, Tamara (Tamie), Vince, and Wanda.

Ralph continued his higher education in the field of management and the family relocated several times to follow his career. In the early 1970s, Ralph became VP of Administration of an American-owned company in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, where the family lived for four and a half years.

In 1974, Ralph and Barb decided to move back to Minnesota to be closer to family. They settled in Madison, MN where, amongst other entrepreneurial ventures, they became LPAs and started Ralph Cook Accounting. They grew this business over the next 29 years until they sold the practice and retired at their Pelican Lake home near Glenwood, MN. They wintered in Mesa, AZ until the last few years.

While Ralph certainly missed his Arizona winters, being back in Minnesota meant more time with their growing family of 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren – time that he treasured more and more as the years went by.

His family and friends were always entertained by Ralph’s sense of humor, and he was a news, political, sports, and history junkie. (Oh, the stories we all heard over the years!) He enjoyed playing billiards, shaking dice with the downtown coffee group in Madison and later in Starbuck, and often won at card games.

Ralph was greatly loved and will be missed by many. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barb of Glenwood, MN; their 3 children Tamie (Brian) Bremseth of Madison, MN, Vince Cook (Jess Wilson) our worldwide travelers, and Wanda Fischer of Maple Grove, MN; grandchildren Derek (Chelsey), Lucas (Genevieve), Sam (Kaitlyn), Josh (Abby), Jackson, Hackett, Katy, and Annie; great-grandchildren Willow, Everly, Archer, and Kevin; sister Ellen “Honey” White, brother Terry (Karen) Cook, brother-in-law David Sheets, Barb’s siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins and other beloved family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws Lawrence “Larry” and Helen Lawson, his sister Donna Sheets, his son-in-law Kevin Fischer, and brothers-in-law James White and John Klang.

Ralph’s Celebration of Life will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, March 2nd at Glenwood United Parish in Glenwood, MN. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations in Ralph’s honor to Glacial Ridge Hospice, Glenwood United Parish, or the organization of your choosing. The family sends their great appreciation to Glacial Ridge Hospice as well as Ralph’s wonderful caregivers.