Ralph Edward DeLange died suddenly of heart failure on Sept. 19, 2014.

He was born April 28, 1932, in Miles City to Lester Earl DeLange and Gladyce Lillian (Kramer) DeLange at the height of the Great Depression and the doctor gave him scant chance for survival as his birth weight was barely 5 pounds; he developed pneumonia and rheumatic fever which led to a lifetime heart problem. Yet Ralph went on to live what he called “a charmed life.”

He joined the U.S. Navy in September, 1951, during the Korean War. He then went on to Aviation Electricians Mate School in Jacksonville, Fla., and, upon completion, at the head of his class, was able to select his duty assignment to Fleet Air Service Squadron 77, VR-24 detachment, in Naples, Italy, where he remained until 1955.

Upon his discharge from the Navy, he re-acquainted himself with a former girlfriend, Norma Thompson, of Whitefish, and they were married on Nov. 5, 1955, in Missoula, where he attended the University of Montana on the GI Bill. He graduated in 1959 with a degree in English with minors in journalism, French and education. He was especially proud of the fact that he was the first descendant of Simon DeLange, who emigrated from Netherlands in 1893, to obtain a college degree.

In 1966, Mr. DeLange overcame a problem with alcohol which he maintained was “the smartest thing I ever did in my life except marrying my sweetheart.”

He worked in Silicon Valley for over 30 years and retired in 1999. He remained in California, although he always considered Montana his home and never grew tired of extolling its virtues. He had the good fortune to be able to spend the past 15 summers with friends and family on the Swan River in Montana.

He was also a lifelong liberal Democrat who worked for many candidates in local, state and national campaigns.

“I never found a liberal cause I couldn’t support” was his mantra. He marched with Cesar Chavez during the grape boycotts, followers of Martin Luther King during the civil rights struggles and spent countless of his lunch hours supporting the protests against the Vietnam War in downtown San Jose, Calif.

Mr. DeLange also took great pride in his neighborhood and in 1990 was honored by the City of San Jose as one of its Citizen Volunteers of the Year for his work in the anti-graffiti and anti-litter campaigns in which he participated for over 25 years.

Genealogy was another of his passions and he spent many hours cataloging his roots. His family history file contained over 7,500 names and biographies.

His love of travel began with his early military career and he counted himself lucky to have visited 45 countries, 50 states and seven provinces of Canada during a lifetime of roaming the world. He was lucky enough to have returned to Italy for visits in 1980, 1990 and 2001 and to one of his favorites, the island of Ischia, in the bay of Naples.

In addition to his other achievements, Ralph wrote his own obituary.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Lester Earl and Gladyce (Kramer) DeLange; and one brother, Richard DeLange.

Surviving are his wife, Norma; and three daughters, Denise and husband, George Calvert, of Sunnyvale, Calif., and their daughter Leslie; Janice Barton of San Jose, daughter Michelle and son Michael; and Jeanette and husband, Vince DeLange-Ortiz, of San Jose, daughter, Nicole and son Matti; two brothers, Lester DeLange of Rexford, and Robert DeLange of Kenmore, Wash.; as well as many nieces and nephews and friends.

He was the best husband, dad, grandpa, and friend anyone could ever have.

Funeral arrangements and cremation have been taken care of by the Neptune Society. Join us and share your favorite memories at a sunset candlelight celebration of his life at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Veterans Memorial at Depot Park, 1 First Ave. NE, Kalispell. A remembrance will be held in San Jose at a later date to be announced and his ashes interred at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell.