Ralph C. Klockman was born on October 18, 1924 in Grand Plain Township, Marshall County, Minnesota, the son of Henry Edward and Emma P. (Ptacek) Klockman. He was baptized, at home, on April 12, 1925 by Reverend C. F. Glock and confirmed at Mavie Lutheran Church on August 25, 1940 by Reverend E. W. Baumann. He attended Mavie Grammer School and Goodridge High School, graduating in 1942.

On September 5, 1948 Ralph was united in marriage to Lillian Lorraine Nelson at St. John Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls.

Ralph was employed by the Pennington County Highway Department and Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls, Bucyrus Erie in Milwaukee and for the Soo Line Railroad in Thief River Falls, for a short time. He also worked construction with Bob Skoglund for a short time. Ralph was a very hard working man. In 1950 the couple purchased a farm in Silverton Township, farming and raising their family. They continued to reside there until 2001.

Ralph loved music and enjoyed playing the accordion. He had a wonderful gift of playing by ear with a memory for remembering music he had heard. When you would ask him if he could play a certain song, hed say sure , he knew it if it was in his lifetime. He also loved to restore old cars and working with wood; including making wishing wells and bird-houses. He especially enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchild.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Mavie Lutheran Church, where he served as treasurer and the Eagles Club.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Lillian of Thief River Falls, MN; two daughters: Deborah Klockman Stenseth (Rick) of Thief River Falls, MN and Valorie Klockman Schmaltz (Wayne) of Moorhead, MN; one son, Kevin (Dena) Klockman of Ogallala, NE; nine grandchildren: Brian, Kim, Jill and Ashley Stenseth, Janet and Paul Beverley and Alexis, Shane and Darian Klockman; and one great granddaughter, Ayana Blythe.

He was preceded in death by one grandson, Cory Stenseth; his parents Henry and Emma Klockman; and his grandparents: Joe and Louise Ptacek and Carl and Ernestine Klockman.