Ralph McHugh

1935 - 2024

Ralph Gilbert McHugh Sr. was born on a farm a mile south of Ogden, Kansas on July 19, 1935, to Miriam "Bud" McHugh and Elizabeth "Daisy" McHugh. He was the eighth of eight children.

His siblings preceding him in death were George McHugh, Alice Stickler, Annie Bradshaw, Betty Romanski, Mary Corliss, Mae Dailey, and Francis Rose. His mother and father would soon adopt five of his cousins, and so he had a dozen siblings in their three-bedroom home.

He was born in a house with no running water, no electricity, and no television. He was born to dirt farmers who made their keep 60-70 cents per hour if they were allowed to work.

Ralph would fondly recall the days growing up in Ogden with such a large family, in a house full of food and laugher. His first memory is of hiding in the cornfields surrounding Fort Riley Post and watching the calvary practice formations.

He later recalled fondly, in his adult years, his own home north of Lake Elbo, which was constantly beset by hordes of children, both of relation and of the neighborhood playing well into the twilight of the day. Half of Lake Elbo spent their childhoods riding bikes, playing baseball, and generally staying out of trouble under the watchful eye of Ralph.

While he was not fond of school, proudly recalling that one year he missed 99 days of classes, he excelled in athletics available to a young boy in Ogden. Baseball, softball, basketball, and of course horseback riding, his first horse, Dusty, cost him $25 in 1952.

Proudly training Dusty, or rather her training herself as he put it, he would grin reminiscing about horseback rides around Ogden and across Post with other families of the community. He was from another time.

He spent a good three decades raising a family with his first wife Dorothy while working in facilities as a mason and painter for Kansas State University. He eventually took the lead role in housing maintenance at KSU's Derby Dining Hall with much humility and hard work.

In his later years, he still could keep up with the hounds on a raccoon hunt and has on more than one occasion been referred to as "Old Indian" for his brash and deft hunting abilities. He loved the rivers, fields, and forests of his home, and spent much time in these places during his free time.

He was preceded in death by his second wife, Nolene McHugh.

He is survived by his five children: Ralph Gilbert McHugh Jr. (Mary Jo), Geralyn Carstenson, Pam Hendricks (Greg Hendricks), Randy McHugh, and Rhonda Briggs (Kelly Briggs). Fifteen grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren also survive him.

The family will greet friends during a visitation from 5:00 until 6:30 p.m. Sunday September 22, 2024, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. A Parish Vigil with the Rosary will be held following the visitation at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday September 23, 2024, at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Ogden, with Father Gale Hammerschmidt as Celebrant. Inurnment will follow at the Ogden City Cemetery in Ogden. Following the inurnment there will be a reception at the Ogden Community Center.

The family suggests memorial contributions in memory of Ralph to the St. Patrick's Catholic Church or the Good Shepherd Homecare and Hospice House Inc. Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.