Ralph William Ellison

Dear Sharon, our sincerest condolences to you on losing your best friend. Thank you for allowing me to cry on your shoulders(our inside light moment) while you were a young and new shepherdess- for working in partnership with pastor Ralph. I think back to our son’s baby dedication and both your love for our family 4. May the community you reside in support you at this difficult time. We continue to pray that it won’t be long before you are reunited with your beloved husband. With love Da, Ziyanda & our now young adult children

It was an honor to have met Pr. Ralph and his darling wife Sharon in Winnipeg where he served as our pastor at the Silver Heights SDA Church. We are reminded of Pr. Ralph's kindness and of his humility. In addition to being devoted to his responsibilities as a Pastor, he enjoyed construction tasks both at the church as well as, in the homes of his members. We are thankful for his contributions to the Silver Heights Church building project and for being such a genuine friend. Sharon, continue to hold on to the hope of the resurrection that we have in Jesus. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Ian, Jackie, Tiandra & Jaquayne Mighty

Sharon, when Ralph went to camp he asked me to look after her and I got to know her I will call her and still look after her.

Oh Sharon where can we begin? I think of a young single pastor coming to his first church district and a beautiful young woman that he was studying with and a nearly fatal car accident that lead the above mentioned young man phoning the above mentioned young woman for help. Then in time this young woman was baptized by ‘this young man into Jesus and in time joining him in marriage and ministry and changing her name to Mrs Sharon Ellison. We remember the evangelism efforts we joined in and the numerous Bible studies given and the countless trips to Sask Pen in Prince Albert to preach and visit and share our Saviour with (as the chaplain once described these men as bankrupt in every way) souls. I remember a day when my friend Pastor Ralph came and helped put the rafters on our machine shed (that seriously could have been a disaster without his knowledge). And another day in harvest he hauling the grain from the combine on a field that was almost too wet for the combine let alone a grain truck. Though we haven’t had very much contact since your time with us at the Quill Lake Church we have always taken note of where you two were and how your ministry was progressing. You hold a special place in our hearts! We welcome the day when we will all meet again!!! God bless you Sharon Ron and Patti

We were so shocked at Ralph's passing, he will be missed as a humble servant of the Lord. He will be remembered as a man of prayer, a caring person, and a shepherd pastor. He was always ready to help and as shared in his obituary his construction work is everywhere including Foot Hills Camp where he did a number of projects and led work teams. I will miss Pastor Ralph, his quick smile, his humility and the fact he never forgot his rural roots which I could so identify with him. My heart goes out to you Sharon, as well as to your family and Ralph's family for such a loss. Prayers and Condolences.

we both are so sad to say Goodbye to you our dear friend. "Friendship isn't about who you have known the longest but it is about those who came and never left your side". Your wonderful soul gets to go home - soar high. You will forever be missed. And Sharon, please know that you are in our thoughts and our hearts today & always. Our deepest condolences go out to you.

Cameron, Melanie, and Braeden send our hearts to Sharon as we share memories and mourning. Ralph was one of the good guys. He blessed our family with friendship, service, and laughter. Sharon ever joining in the craziness. Not to mention Lacey cat, Braeden 's buddy. His leadership to Silver Heights church was tremendous. We pray God will hold you close as you go thru this valley. Trust His ways, tho they can be hard to see. Lean on friends and family, ask for help from whomever you need. Claim God's promises. Thinking of and praying for you. In love, Cameron, Melanie, & Braeden Gumbs

I appreciated getting to know Ralph. He had a deep compassion for others as well as a desire to support those that were in trouble. I will miss him

We are missing Ralph already. Ralph would join us playing music at the Hanna lodge on Sunday evenings. We had our last music jam with him at our Round Up Centre just a few days before he went in for his operation. It was a very enjoyable evening as we played and he sang a lot of songs. We will miss him along with his friends also.

To say I was shocked when Ralph’s passing was announced at a meeting we were on December 7, is an understatement. He had just sent me a birthday greeting a few days prior to his passing and thanked him. Here was a man of God. I met him in college when I and my two little boys were new in Canada. He stopped by our little house up at the college to see how we were doing on occasion. Would eat with us, prayed for us. He helped me all the time with my old car that was always dying, that I used to get around with, offered to fix it all the time for free. No matter when I called he would say I will be there shortly. He was a pastor indeed. He was close to my boys always encouraging them and showing them love. Foothills camping meeting, the kids will miss getting rides with him on the bus. My grandkids would leave food on the table when they heard the bus coming, “uncle Ralph is coming”, that’s what they called him. We have hope to meet him soon when Jesus comes which is very soon. God’s stalwart has rested. God will say ‘well done to him. Condolences to Sharon and all the family. Praying for you.

We noticed Ralph observing us through a glass window while we were playing Pickleball. He was so into it we just had to invite him to join us. Well he went from playing in socking feet to becoming a regular participant. He enjoyed playing with us and beating us regularly in fierce competitive games. We knew Ralph as the Pastor but then we knew as the athlete. We were all shocked and saddened by his passing. He went into the hospital for a rather simple procedure and died from complications. It just sucks that this happened to Ralph. We will remember Ralph for this mischievous twinkle in his eye, his love of Pickleball and his care and compassion for the people around him.

You will be missed, you saved me in my time of need as a child came and picked me up in B.C. When I knew nothing about you, you were there for me when I needed you and also my kids if you were not such a caring person. I don't know if I would be the person I am. I am sorry we did not get more time You will be in my thoughts and heart.

Our hearts go out to the family, Ralph will be missed by all who knew him, Ralph had a heart for family and friends, rest well in the arms of Jesus my friend, till we meet again.

Ralph will always remain one of my better memories of university days, from his soft mellow baritone, to his way with words, Ralph was a man whom nature had equipped well to be a minister of the gospel. He was, to put it modestly, in a league of his own, and as a character, one of the benchmarks of manner I have on which to evaluate a pastor. When the time came for our own church here in Georgia to select a new pastor, Ralph was one of the first individuals who came to mind as to the type of pastor we needed, and I cannot adequately express how much poorer the world is for his passing. He will remain in my memories forever as the epitome of a gentleman, a scholar, and a man of God, and not necessarily in that order.

I was really surprised to discover though friends that Ralph passed. He was a great guy since I knew him from university. I will remember him... and the pick-up truck he drive in college, the many weekend outings just to have a taste of meat being in a vegan collage... My heart is saddened by Ralph's passing and my prayers are with his family and church family. Please accept my deepens condolences concerning Ralphs passing...