Bagley, Ralph Colt, Jr. Age 92, of Wayzata, Minnesota. Passed away peacefully at his home on Lake Minnetonka in Orono on 13 October 2007. Ralph was born April 13, 1915, attended Blake School, graduated from Lawrenceville School, entered Yale University studying linguistics and majoring in Latin. He entered the family grain business living in the Dakotas and returned to Minneapolis to become President of the George C. Bagley Elevator Company which became the Bagley Grain Company, where he also was the President of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange 1965-1966. In community work, he became an elected Trustee Councilman of Orono Village from 1954 – 1963, President of Woodhill Country Club 1957 – 1958, Senior Warden and served on the vestry for St. Martins by the Lake Church and participated on various boards including St. James School and Abbott Northwestern Hospitals. He excelled in various hobbies, started the Minnesota Field Archery Association with Fred Bear, earned a rare "Master Bridge Player" status twice, was an avid fly fisherman, and played golf enthusiastically, making a hole in one on the 16th hole at Woodhill Country Club in 1960. He was preceded by his father, Ralph Colt Bagley Sr.; his mother, Margaret Bagley Harrison; sisters, Barbara Bagley Corliss, Patricia Bagley Clifford B, Leslie Harrison Fruen; his wives, Winifred Mackey Bagley and Mary Jim Bagley. He is survived by four children: Ralph Colt Bagley III of Bermuda, George Noyes Bagley of New Canaan, CT, Bridget Ann Bagley of Spring Park, MN, Lonny Bagley McDougall of Apollo Beach FL. There are also stepchildren: James Foley Smathers of Winter Haven, William Howell Smathers of Mt. Dora, FL, Fairfax Smathers Nabers of Birmingham, AL. Ralph had eight grandchildren: Christopher Kerr of Santa Barbara, CA., Katherine Kerr of Santa Barbara, CA, Thomas Vida of Sylvan Lake, MI, Gretchen Vida of Tampa, FL, Ralph Colt Bagley IV of New York, NY, Sarah Bagley Holbrook of New York, NY, Gordon Bagley and Elizabeth Bagley of New Canaan, CT, and Evan Thomas Vida of Sylvan Lake MI is Ralph's great-grandson. A memorial service will be held at St. Martin's by-the-Lake Church on the morning of November 19th. A reception will follow at Woodhill Country Club. Memorials may be directed to the Noyes Brule Endowment Fund, c/o George Noyes Bagley, 602 Carter Street, New Canaan, CT. 06840. David Lee Funeral Home Wayzata 952-473-5577
This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.
