Ralph Packulak

Pullman, Wash.

Ralph Stephen Packulak passed away April 1, 2025, at his home in Pullman, Wash. after a battle with cancer. Ralph was born on August 13, 1958, in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Peter Packulak and Ruth Packulak (Favel).

Ralph spent his early years in Canada and loved to tell stories about his time working as a racehorse trainer in Winnipeg and as a laborer for Midwest Diamond Drilling in the Northwest Territories. After moving to Minot in the early 1980s he found his calling in the water industry working many years as a water operator for North Prairie Regional Water, eventually becoming its manager. He lived in Sawyer for several years and was the City Mayor for a couple of terms.

In 2010, he, along with his wife, Melody, bought a Budget Blinds franchise in Detroit Lakes, Minn. where they sold and installed custom window treatments. In 2019 they sold their franchise, house, most of their belongings, and hit the road in their motorhome. Some of Ralph’s happiest times were crisscrossing the U.S. in Big Bertha; spending summers in Idaho and North Dakota and winters in Arizona and New Mexico.

Ralph was hospitalized in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Arizona from August 2022 through February 2023. It was becoming difficult to live in a motorhome and have different doctors with each new health crisis. Thus, they sold Big Bertha and settled in Pullman, Wash. to establish continuity in Ralph’s healthcare.

Ralph was a handyman who could fix almost anything. He also remodeled several houses throughout his life. He loved to hunt, fish, go boating, and watch football. Ralph was very proud of his Ukrainian and Indigenous heritage and was a member of the Peguis First Nation Band of Cree.

Ralph was a gentle giant of a man with a big booming laugh and a great sense of humor. He is missed by those who were lucky to have shared their lives with him; his wife, Melody (Reem), Pullman, Wash.; sons, Alan (Lindsey Stoney), Stephen (Julie Sadowsky), Minot, and Shay (Elizabeth Brewer), Spring Hill, Tenn., His favorite daughter, Tanya Andre, Minot. Bonus sons, Justin Andre (Heather Kaler), Reidsville, N.C.; Keith Kruckenberg, Bismarck, Scott Kruckenberg (Lacie Zander), Mandan, and Nathan Wilson (Julia Polito), Moscow, Idaho. Grandchildren, Paxton, Ella, and Vivian Packulak; Mataia Andre (Casey St. Croix), Zack Brown, and Harper Andre all of Minot. London and Foster Andre, Reidsville, N.C.; Madeline and Tyler Wilson, Moscow, Idaho. Great-grandchildren Easton Pace, Charley, Channler, and JoLei St. Croix, Minot. Brother, Albert Packulak (Rhoda), sisters, Alberta (Aurang Zeeb), and Beverley Pruden, all of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and sister Daphne Daignault (Billy) Dryden, Ontario; sister-in-law Brenda Wheelock (Donald), Inkom, Idaho along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and several siblings.

Cremation has taken place and celebrations of his life are planned for later this summer in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Manitoba.

Published by The Minot Daily News, April 23, 2025.