Ralph Spagrud

SPAGRUD: Ralph Orville passed away on March 19, 2022 at the Gull Lake Special Care Home. He was 83. Ralph is survived by his daughter Lorna (Derek Shaw) of Victoria; three grandchildren: Brooke Spagrud (Braden), Samantha Spagrud (Andrew), Jonah Shaw (Miranda); one great granddaughter, Brynn; and his brother Oscar (Millie) Spagrud of Gull Lake. He is predeceased by many: his parents, Anton Spagrud (of Norway) and Alice (nee Kabrud); two wives, Helen Forsythe and Marilyn Brown; son, Kerry; three siblings: Myrna, Eldon and Olaf Spagrud, as well as half brother, Dallas Knutson. Ralph was born on April 8, 1938 in Assiniboia. He quit school in grade 8 to help manage the family farm after his father was killed in a farming accident. Working on the oil rigs and owning two water hauling companies were his work life and passion. He became a Tool Push on the rigs at the young age of 18, working his way to Consultant Engineer. He worked all over Saskatchewan and Alberta, as well as a year in Australia and time in Libya, before returning to Gull Lake decades later to start Spagrud's Trucking. His son, Kerry, later joined him on that venture until Kerry died in 2006. One person commented recently that "Ralph was bigger than life". For all who knew him in his younger years, that certainly fits. Ralph enjoyed fast cars, driving, dancing, playing crib and cards, welding, the casino, breaking horses, hard work, and socializing. He had the gift of the gab with many willing listeners. Ralph was never one for half measures. This showed itself everywhere, not the least of which in his love of food. Black pepper, hot sauce, chocolate, peanut butter and ice cream, were all in excess. Ralph was married four times - testament to a wild and crazy personality, trouble with alcoholism, several deaths, and having a hard time staying still. Ralph married Edith Grace Heagy April 14, 1961 in Rockglen. They raised his only two children, Kerry Vaughn and Lorna Koreen. The family lived in many places including Moose Jaw while Ralph helped prepare the site for the world's first potash solution mine near Regina. They moved to various locations depending on availability of work: Swift Current and Gull Lake in Saskatchewan; Drumheller, Hanna, Lethbridge, Taber, Edmonton, Winterburn, and Millet in Alberta. Ralph and Edith divorced in 1984 after 23 years of marriage. Ralph re-married Helen Forsythe of Red Deer; Lynda Turner, and Marilyn Brown, both of Gull Lake. A memorial will be held July 16, 2022 at the Gull Lake Community Hall. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to Autumn House PO Box 630 Gull Lake, SK S0N 1A0 where Ralph resided the last four years of his life. Arrangements entrusted to Warren's Funeral Home. For further information please call 1-306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606, or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members on the tribute wall.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ralph Spagrud, please visit our floral store.