Ralph Gerard Mathews, 73, passed away at home in Gillette, Wyoming after extended health issues and cancer with family by his side.
Ralph was born September 10, 1951, in Lovell, Wyoming to Fred Welch Mathews and Madeline “Peggy” Mae (Jones) Mathews. He was the third born of five children. Ralph grew up in Cowley, Wyoming. He served in the US Army in the Vietnam Era until he was injured in a helicopter accident. Working in the oilfield took him to Northeast Wyoming where he met and was first married to Terry Ledger and together, they had three children that they raised in the Moorcroft area. They later divorced. Ralph later married Nancy Karren and this expanded his family adding her children and grandchildren. They lived in Moorcroft and Gillette Area until his death.
He spent many of his working years in the coal mines running all the various equipment. Ralph especially enjoyed operating the shovel and the competition to produce the most. After he retired from the coal mines he worked for several more years for a local aggregate company. He was always a handy man and was always helping friends and family with plumbing, electrical and other various needs.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Peggy Mathews and sister, Lori Farlow.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Mathews, Gillette; brothers, Wayne Mathews and Evan Mathews; sister, Anita Brown, all of Cody, WY; eight children, 31 grandkids, and 33 great grandkids.
Services will be held at 11:30 am, Monday, November 18, 2024, at Black Hills National Cemetery in the rotunda. Following the services at the cemetery everyone is invited to Deere Haven, 204 Converse St in Moorcroft to enjoy some food and share memories of Ralph.
You may sign his online guestbook at blackhillsfuneralhome.com.
