Ralph Melvin Brevig

Ralph Brevig passed away peacefully of natural causes in Phoenix, AZ area (Chandler/Gilbert area) on August 11th, 2023, shortly after celebrating his 98th birthday. 

Ralph was born on July 23rd, 1925 in Starbuck, Minnesota, where he was raised and graduated from Starbuck High School. Ralph was a WWII veteran, having served in the Philippines and Japan in the Army’s 1th Calvary Division as a Sergeant. Following his service, he attended and graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he met Dolores Langum, and was married in 1950. They lived in the Minneapolis area for 18 years before moving to Bismarck, ND, where they lived for 23 more years.  They then moved to the Phoenix area upon his retirement from Montana-Dakota Utilities Company after 35 years of service, where he worked as an Assistant Controller and Income Tax Manager. Ralph was loved by his colleagues, friends and family. He also enjoyed get-togethers with friends and family.  

Ralph was an avid sports enthusiast. He loved playing golf and bowling.  One of his achievements was making 5 holes-in-one at golf and bowling a 3-game high in league of 685 at 88 years old. He continued to play both sports until he was 91 years old. 

Ralph’s great grandparent, Lars and Anne Brevig, migrated from Norway in 1870, establishing the Brevig farm homestead in 1872, with their 7 children. One of these was his grandparent, Christopher (and Anne) Brevig, whom eventually took over the family farm and planted all the trees now standing in the Starbuck city park by Lake Minnewaska. His parents, Joseph and Christie Brevig, bought the homestead and expanded it to approximately 1,000 acres. His brother, Kenneth, has remained/lived on the homestead up until this year. His sister’s son, Terry Brown, is continuing the family legacy having purchased the family homestead from Kenneth to keep it in the family. 

Ralph’s parents were K. Joseph and Christie Marie Stoa Brevig (deceased). Ralph had two brothers, Erling (Agnes/LaVonne, both deceased) and Kenneth (Dorothy, deceased) and one sister, Sylvia (Raymond, deceased). Ralph is survived by his wife, Dolores of 73 years of marriage, their 3 children; Stephen (Karen) Brevig, Rae Ann Brevig and Brian (Terri) Brevig and 5 grandchildren; Clint (Alice and Edison) and ChrisDee Brevig, A. Stephen (Delphina) Brevig, Jaime (John) Anderson and Stephani Beckham, and 6 great grandchildren.

A celebration of life memorial services will be held this Saturday afternoon at Mountain View Lutheran Church in Ahwatukee, AZ (11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee, AZ), August 19th, 2023, at 3 PM PT.  A celebration of life will follow.

An additional memorial service will be held at the Brevig family home church, Immanuel Lutheran, in Starbuck, MN, (Date and time to follow). Ralph’s great grandparents and area farmers established this church in 1872.

Cards, flowers, and gifts can be sent to the church.