Ralph J. Smith

Smith Ralph J. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 19, 2005 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in St. Cloud, for Ralph J. Smith, 76, of St. Cloud, who died Monday, August 15. Entombment will be in Assumption Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursday, after 10:00 a.m. Friday at the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud. Ralph J. Smith was born on March 5, 1929, in Albion Township, Wright County, MN to Asa and Marjorie (Jude) Smith. Ralph graduated from Maple Lake High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952-1954. Ralph married Mary E. Hoffman at St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Maple Lake on November 22, 1952. He began his career with Jude Candy Company; he later owned and operated Granite City Jobbing in St. Cloud, and Johnson Candy Company in Brainerd. Ralph was involved in the wholesale distribution business for 55 years. He was a Past President of the Minnesota Candy and Tobacco Association, and served on the Board of Directors; he was on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Tobacco Distributors; He was a member of: Minnesota Wholesale Marketers Association, Minnesota Grocers Association, American Wholesale Marketers Association, National Federation of Independent Businessmen, St. Cloud Downtown Development Association, St. Cloud Chamber, Minnesota Chamber, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council #12098, St. Cloud American Legion Post #76, and the VFW Post #4847. Survivors include his wife Mary of St. Cloud; children, Michael (Joanne) of St. Cloud, Nancy (Michael) Peckskamp of Sauk Rapids, Susan (Vincent Joel) Meyer of St. Cloud, David (Robin) of St. Cloud, John of St. Cloud; 11 grandchildren; brothers and sisters Dorothy (Wally) Jorgenson of CA, Sally (Dan) Reinert of Bloomington, Richard (Eloise) of Litchfield; brother-in-law Phil McManus of Crystal, and sister-in-law Lucille Smith of Maple Lake. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Juanita Smith, Catherine McManus, and brother Donald. Memorials are preferred. Daniel Funeral Home, St. Cloud: 1-800-358-3313; www. danielfuneralhome.com

Published on August 17, 2005