Turtinen, Ralph Rudolph Matthew Born Jan. 10, 1928 in Chisholm, Minn., died peacefully at home on Jan. 2, 2018. Preceded in death by wife Joan, parents Matt and Lena and brother Rudolph. Survived by sons Scott (Laurie) and Jeff, grandchildren Melissa, Abbey and Alexander. Ralph excelled in school and sports. 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. Ralph built his life around sports, writing and family and devoted his time to all three. Ralph worked the Helsinki Olympics in 1952 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, to whom he passed on his love of sports. He is recognized as one of the founding fathers of the Wayzata Youth Hockey Association. Scott and Jeff worked with their dad as his public relations business evolved into typesetting and association management. Ralph was a kind, generous, intelligent man who was more interested in others than in himself. Memorial service 11 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. David Lee Funeral Home Wayzata 952-473-5577 davidleefuneralhome.com