Ralph Victor Solberg

November 11, 1928 – June 17, 2019

After a life of steady, compassionate service Ralph Victor Solberg, 90, of Everett, Washington died June 17, 2019 at his home surrounded by family.

Ralph was born on Nov. 11, 1928 in Everett, Washington. He moved to Moses Lake in 1953 and then to Warden in 1961, where he founded and published the Warden Register newspaper. In Warden, he served as President of the Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the City Planning Commission, a member of the City Council, radio dispatcher for the Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the Kiwanis Club.

Six years later, Ralph was forced to sell the newspaper when he began losing his eyesight. He was declared legally blind in 1967 and totally blind in the mid-70s. He co-founded and served as president of the Grant Adams County Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind. He also served and held offices for the National Federation of the Blind of Washington.

Ralph worked for KRSC radio in Othello, Washington for nine years, where he was news director and program director, and was responsible for hiring and training all on-air personnel. He was also one of the few blind disc jockeys in the nation, working out methods to allow himself to perform the job as well as a sighted person.

Ralph moved back to Everett in 1982 where he produced a half-hour radio program as a member of First Presbyterian Church of Everett. The program ran every week on KRKO radio in Everett for 25 years, comprising over 1,300 programs.

In his spare time, Ralph enjoyed working in his home shop building and fixing things, landscaping, gardening, reading, collecting model cars, summer trips to Pacific Beach, producing annual family videos, and spending quality time with his large family.

Ralph is survived by his wife Shirley; their children and spouses Vicki (Joel) Rossell, Michael (Tawni) Solberg, Cathryn Ruckle (John Culver), Jeffry (Doreen) Solberg, Arthur Ruckle and Sonya (Micheal) Nicholson; grandchildren Tony Solberg, Joshua Rossell, Stephanie (Lee) Sanders, Brett (Jessica) Rossell, Sarah Solberg, Shannon (Ted) Kubesh, Lindsey Rossell, Tori Ruckle (Nate Born), Claire Culver, Nathan (Janie) Solberg, Bo Culver, Molly Nicholson and Mitchell Nicholson and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents Axel and Sina, brothers Leif and Gunnar, sister Ingrid Anderson, first wife Lorraine, son Gregory and guide dog Evo.

A memorial service will be held on Aug. 10, 2019 at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 2936 Rockefeller Ave., Everett, Washington. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Everett.