Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND002 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 00560
Title: Ralph L. Burdick
Date:
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 9/29/1898
Summary: Ralph L. Burdick Benson County Sheriff's Department September 10, 1954 Deputy Ralph L. Burdick died September 10, 1954 as a result of injuries received when he was struck by a motor vehicle. Ralph L. Burdick was born in 1898. Lucy E. Howard was born in Riggin Township of Benson County in September 1900. They were married in 1918 at Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. They came to Graham's Island that same year. They had five children. Leslie was born on Graham's Island in the cement house. They resided in Riggin Township, Graham's Island and Minnewaukan. They lived north of Minnewaukan at Ramsey where Gordon and Margaret were born. The rest of their children, Darrel and Helen, were born on Graham's Island. From the cement house they moved to the other farm where they raised cattle, horses and sheep. Leslie drowned at Ziebach's Pass in 1950 and is buried at Oberon. Gordon farmed on Graham's Island and later was sheriff of Benson County for 10 years. He married Jeanette Berg of Tokio and they lived in Mission Township of Benson County, both being employed at Brunswick Corp. at Ft. Totten. Margaret is married to Wilfred Brown of Esmond where they reside. Darrell died in 1954 at age 23 and is buried at Oberon. Helen is married to Marvin Blazer of Devils Lake and they live at Cando where they own and operate the Super Valu Store. Helen Burdick Blazer has twins, a son and daughter. The Blazers' daughter, Judy, has twin daughters making it the 4th generation with twins. James Eli Howard was a twin and each succeeding generation has had one set of twins. In 1945 they moved to Minnewaukan. Ralph raised potatoes, and also operated a potato warehouse. He served as Benson County deputy sheriff under Walter "Red" Crane. In 1953, they built a cafe and service station, which they operated until Ralph's death in 1954. Lucy continued to operate the business for awhile. She sold it in 1956. She then moved to Devils Lake where she still resides. (Minnewaukan History Book 1983) Funeral services for Ralph Burdick, 55, deputy sheriff of Benson County were conducted Tuesday at 2 p.m. from the Presbyterian Church at Minnewaukan with Rev. Benjamin Dove officiating. Interment was in Hillside Cemetery at Oberon. Burdick died early Friday morning at his home following a heart attack. He had returned from Devils Lake, where he had been hospitalized with a leg injury suffered Labor Day. Born at Graham's Island September 29, 1898, he married the former Lucy Howard at Brandon, Manitoba, February 11, 1919. Most of their life was spent in the Minnewaukan community, where they have farmed and operated a restaurant. Since January 1, 1951, he had served as deputy sheriff to Walter Crane. Surviving, besides his widow, are a son, Gordon of Graham's Island; two daughters, Mrs. Wilford Brown (Margaret) of Esmond and Mrs. Marvin Blazer (Helen) of Devils Lake; two brothers, William (Pat) of Clyde, Alberta, Canada and Earl of Minnewaukan; and a sister, Mrs. Jessie James of Medford, Ore. Active pallbearers were Walter Crane of Minnewaukan; Ray Belford, William Chapman, Bert Smutz, Walter Mikkelson and Frank Novacek, all of Devils Lake; Orlie Comeau of Minot; and Ed Brunelle of Fort Totten. Honorary pallbearers were Bert M. Salisbury, Gordon Johnson, Harry F. Montague, Bill Conway, G. J. Kuhn, Melvin Christianson, Kirk Reynolds and Freddie Johnson. Deputy sheriff Ralph Burdick has yet not been replaced. Whoever succeeds Burdick, Sheriff Walter Crane does not expect that the new officer will know the reservation area as well as Burdick, who lived there many years and knew every trail and home in the Fort Totten area. Much of the enforcement work on the reservation was done by Burdick while he was deputy. Burdick died of a heart attack September 10 after being injured by a car while policing the Indian Fair at Fort Totten. He was a nephew of Congressman Usher L. Burdick, who as a young man also lived in the Graham's Island area. (Benson County Farmers Press Minnewaukan, ND 58351 September 30, 1954)
Red ID: FND_I_77294 Image ID: 509114 Image Notes: 10950 00002 00560

Collection: FND002 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program
Date:

Summary: The North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program honors fallen officers with highlights of their lives and careers.

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