Ralph Turtinen Obituary Ralph Turtinen, born Jan. 10, 1928 in Chisholm, Minn., died peacefully at home on Jan. 2, 2018. Ralph excelled in school and on all sports fields. He captained his high school basketball team and played baseball on Chisholms City team as a 15-year-old. Ralph attended the University of Wisconsin on a basketball scholarship for a year then joined the Marine Corps. During a warless period, and stationed in San Diego, he was editor of the Marine Corps paper and played basketball for the Marines. Ralph finished his schooling at the University of Minnesota with a journalism degree and found lifelong friends at Sigma Chi. He married Joan Crawford of Hibbing in 1954 and stayed together until she passed in 2015. Ralph built his life around sports, sports writing and family and devoted his time to all three. Ralph worked the Helsinki Olympics in1952 and Cortina Olympics in 1956 as a journalist. Ralph wrote for various newspapers and produced more than a dozen books while raising two sons, Scott and Jeff, whom he passed on his love of sports. He is recognized as a Founding Father of the Wayzata Youth Hockey Association. Both sons worked with their dad as his business evolved into typesetting and association management. Ralph was a kind, intelligent man who always was more interested in whoever he was with rather than talk about himself and his own wonderful life. In 2015, Ralph was diagnosed with congestive heart failure with a prognosis he would not see Christmas. Ralphs heart and will to live let him celebrate three more Christmas and visits from his sons every day while living alone in a condo on the shores of Wayzata Bay. Ralph is survived by son Scott (Laurie), grandchildren Melissa, Abbey and Alex and son Jeff. Preceded in death by his wife Joan, father Matt, mother Lena and brother Rudolph. Memorial service 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 8, 2018 at Wayzata Community Church, 125 East Wayzata Boulevard with visitation one hour prior at the church. Interment Fairview Cemetery, Mound.  Born: January 10, 1928 Death: January 2, 2018 Share your thoughts and memories in the guestbook.