Rev. Ralph Raymond High

Rev. RALPH RAYMOND HIGH October 23, 1925 - October 8, 2020 Ralph was born in a farmhouse south of Palo, Iowa, the 5th child of Earl Vivit and Viola Pearl Bottenfield High. Ralph's early years were spent in rural areas near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Despite dropping out of school at 16 to contribute to the financial support of the family, Ralph went on to attend Northwestern College in Minneapolis and earned degrees from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana; Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana; and finally, a Master's of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary (formerly Butler's School of Religion). Ralph was a skilled machinist, car mechanic, school bus driver, rabbit hunter, gardener, softball player, coach, and pastor. His purpose in life was to serve his Savior and others demonstrated in multiple ways: shoveling the church walk before parishioners arrived Sunday mornings; shortening a vacation trip because of death in a church family; feeding the homeless in the back yard; visiting shut-ins; midnight calls to emergency rooms; and many more. His servant's heart made it difficult for him to ask for help from others in his assisted living setting. Ralph became a child of God at a series of revival meetings in Covington (Iowa) Community Church. He knelt at the altar and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior. Repeatedly Ralph, and later Nadine with him, saw God's work in his life. In the infantry, Ralph saw himself as a shy, backward, high school dropout but his commander saw leadership and wanted him to train new recruits. The commander gave him a choice: "face men as an instructor or face enemy bullets". What Ralph didn't see at the time was that God was preparing him for his future vocation which would require public speaking! The depravity of war deeply impacted Ralph when he was overseas. He saw broken people and answered God's call to ministry on a mountain in Palermo, Italy. He knew God's peace and salvation for the lost was the only solution to the suffering he saw. During school years, Ralph and Nadine prayed for God's sustenance when there was no milk for the baby or money for rent, and God always provided. He later described these years of dependence on God as the happiest times. Even when Ralph was turned away from ministry positions, God opened the door to his first pastorate by sending the District Superintendent to visit a church on the very Sunday Ralph was substitute preaching. The District Superintendent asked where Ralph was serving. Ralph responded that no one wanted him. The District Superintendent's response was, "I am your new District Superintendent and I have a place for you." Within 2 weeks, Ralph was associate pastor at the First Methodist Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. During the next 39 years, Ralph served as a United Methodist pastor in 10 churches in Indiana and Minnesota. An invitation to the BWCA and subsequent mentoring in how to camp in the BWCA was a gift of renewal and relaxation to Ralph and the family. Nadine sacrificially joined these outings despite her fear of the water and inability to swim. Their mentor fulfilled his promise to never put her in any danger. Ralph loved to fish and usually caught at least one giant Northern per trip. We think his record was 14.5 pounds! With no phone service, he could relax and completely enjoy himself! Loving friends who knew the value of these trips gifted money for a canoe which Ralph christened "?a???", (pronounced Care Iss) the Greek word for grace. He chose this name because the gift was a blessing he did not deserve. Having lived in parsonages all of their married life, Ralph & Nadine built their first home in 1990 in Brooklyn Park. The family called it their honeymoon home. Two years later Ralph retired, but served as volunteer visitation pastor for the Osseo United Methodist Church the next 14 years. Ralph was preceded in death by his wife, Nadine. He is survived by his three children Bonnie (Kenneth) Erickson; Larry High; and Jerry (Joan) High; three grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Funeral 11:30 AM Tuesday, Oct. 20 (visitation 10:30 AM) at Osseo United Methodist Church, 16 - 2nd Ave., SE, Osseo. Interment Roselawn Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to Red Bird Mission, www.rbmission.org, to the Osseo United Methodist Church, www.osseoumc.org or to the hospice that provided such compassionate care for Ralph and the family, Our Lady of Peace, www.ourladyofpeacemn.org.

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Rev. Ralph Raymond High

October 23, 1925 - October 8, 2020

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