Ralph Goodman

Ralph E. Goodman, 73, died Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at Libby Care Center.

He was born Sept. 14, 1933, to Katherine Pendergrass Goodman and Ralph Goodman Sr. in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Ralph's family moved to Grass Valley, Calif., where he was raised and educated.

While in southern California, Ralph worked in construction, including on the original Disneyland in Anaheim. He later resided for many years in northerm Las Vegas, Nev.

Following many visits, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of moving to Montana in 2004 and settled in Libby.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing in Montana.

A man of numerous and diverse interests, Ralph had been an avid black powder rifleman and a widely known black powder gunsmith. He also had been a skilled leather craftsman, making clothing and other items relating to black powder rifles.

Ralph was a skilled master brewer as well as judge and critic in the art of micro-brewing.

In his earlier years, he had built and raced off-road race cars. He learned the martial arts and earned a black belt in Taekwon Do. Ralph was an avid gardener, mainly producing vegetables, and was an excellent chef.

Survivors include his wife, Judith, of Libby; his children Michael of Kingman, Ariz., Robert of Skiatook, Okla., Kevin of Phoenix, Cindy of Georgia, Michele of Las Vegas, Danielle of Arkansas and Ralph III of Ely, Nev.; a great-grandson, Tony Longoria of Libby; a sister, Betty Thompson of Spokane; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Melody, in 2005.

Services were Monday at Libby Christian Church with burial at City of Libby Cemetery.